Philosophy
Some months ago, news broke indicating that scientific measurements in Italy had determined that some neutrinos could travel faster than the speed of light. The media jumped on the hype bandwagon and declared the "death of Einstein's theory of relativity." Physicists (aka, the experts on these questions) were skeptical because ALL previous experimental and observational data, including neutrinos and light traveling from super nova explosions really really far away and reaching Earth at exactly the same time, confirmed Einstein's predictions, so they concluded there must have been some error in the measurement, the analysis, the equipment, etc. on which the Italians relied. Of course, there were also cultural reasons for doubt: as Sergio Bertolucci, research director at CERN indicated, "I have difficulty to believe it, because nothing in Italy arrives ahead of time." :)
News are starting to pop up everywhere now that there was indeed a glitch in the equipment. Still, whatever the real answer turns out to be, and since everyone seems to be paying attention to the story, this presents a great opportunity to learn some fundamental lessons not only about relativity and other ground-breaking research in theoretical physics and cosmology, but how science itself works and makes the tremendous progress it does, so let's watch this delightful documentary narrated by Professor Marcus du Sautoy:
Sometimes I do wonder whether these physicists are insane in the mem-brane :)
- A Single Event Does Not Make A Law Invalid...neutrinos Vs Speed Of Light
"Take Heart, Einstein: ‘Earth-Shattering’ Science Is Relatively Rare?" by Adam Mann September 26th, 2011 Wired Science What began last week as whispered rumors posted on the physics blog Resonaances grew to a roar of articles around the world...
- Should Have Used Heathkit No. 4530949e
There is something to be said about being absolutely sure before a disclosure is announced."Faster-than-light neutrinos could be down to bad wiring"by Jason Palmer February 23rd, 2012BBC NewsWhat might have been the biggest physics story of the past century...
- Two Down...hundreds To Go...neutrinios In The Limelight
"Neutrinos still faster than light in latest version of experiment" Finding that contradicts Einstein's theory of special relativity is repeated with fine-tuned procedures and equipment by Alok Jha November 17th, 2011 guardian.co.uk The scientists...
- Slow Down There Mr. Neutrino
"Particles Faster Than the Speed of Light? Not So Fast, Some Say" by Dennis Overbye October 24th, 2011 The New York Times “Does E still equal MC squared?” So asks the Irish band the Corrigan Brothers in a new song, “Einstein and the Neutrinos,”...
- Neutrino Speed Must Be Subjected To The "scientific Method"
"Not so fast, neutrinos" MIT physics professors examine the subatomic speed limit controversy by Stephanie Holden October 14th, 2011 The Tech On Sept. 23, European scientists announced that they had observed neutrinos, a class of subatomic particles,...
Philosophy
Faster Than the Speed of Light?
News are starting to pop up everywhere now that there was indeed a glitch in the equipment. Still, whatever the real answer turns out to be, and since everyone seems to be paying attention to the story, this presents a great opportunity to learn some fundamental lessons not only about relativity and other ground-breaking research in theoretical physics and cosmology, but how science itself works and makes the tremendous progress it does, so let's watch this delightful documentary narrated by Professor Marcus du Sautoy:
Sometimes I do wonder whether these physicists are insane in the mem-brane :)
- A Single Event Does Not Make A Law Invalid...neutrinos Vs Speed Of Light
"Take Heart, Einstein: ‘Earth-Shattering’ Science Is Relatively Rare?" by Adam Mann September 26th, 2011 Wired Science What began last week as whispered rumors posted on the physics blog Resonaances grew to a roar of articles around the world...
- Should Have Used Heathkit No. 4530949e
There is something to be said about being absolutely sure before a disclosure is announced."Faster-than-light neutrinos could be down to bad wiring"by Jason Palmer February 23rd, 2012BBC NewsWhat might have been the biggest physics story of the past century...
- Two Down...hundreds To Go...neutrinios In The Limelight
"Neutrinos still faster than light in latest version of experiment" Finding that contradicts Einstein's theory of special relativity is repeated with fine-tuned procedures and equipment by Alok Jha November 17th, 2011 guardian.co.uk The scientists...
- Slow Down There Mr. Neutrino
"Particles Faster Than the Speed of Light? Not So Fast, Some Say" by Dennis Overbye October 24th, 2011 The New York Times “Does E still equal MC squared?” So asks the Irish band the Corrigan Brothers in a new song, “Einstein and the Neutrinos,”...
- Neutrino Speed Must Be Subjected To The "scientific Method"
"Not so fast, neutrinos" MIT physics professors examine the subatomic speed limit controversy by Stephanie Holden October 14th, 2011 The Tech On Sept. 23, European scientists announced that they had observed neutrinos, a class of subatomic particles,...