So much for relativity

Does exactly what it says on the tin. Some of the nonsense contained herein may be very loosely related to The Sisters of Mercy, but I wouldn't bet your PayPal account on it. In keeping with the internet's general theme nothing written here should be taken as Gospel: over three quarters of it is utter gibberish, and most of the forum's denizens haven't spoken to another human being face-to-face for decades. Don't worry your pretty little heads about it. Above all else, remember this: You don't have to stay forever. I will understand.
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stufarq
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Science schmience

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/scientists-pro ... 50760.html
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moses
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'This doesn't mean Albert Einstein was wrong, any more than his theory of Special Relativity meant Isac Newton was wrong. '
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Bartek
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If it turn out to be true it will mean that Einstein was right about atoms. He didn't got same tools and knowledge like Mr and Mrs from CERN.
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Salome
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Dr Whitehouse said the findings technically meant that time travel might be possible.
Now that I want to see! 8)
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Nikolas Vitus Lagartija
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Salome wrote:
Dr Whitehouse said the findings technically meant that time travel might be possible.
Now that I want to see! 8)
I think I saw a film about that back in the 80's.
As for Einstein - anyone can make a wee mistake.
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timsinister
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There could be a wealth of alternative explanations - extradimensional transference, or maybe a new form of energy field we haven't yet encountered...

The possibilities are endless! We live in exciting times.
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markfiend
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The smart money is on it being an error in the measurements.

*Edit to add: seems xkcd agrees with me:

Image

Anyone want to bet $200? :twisted:
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stufarq
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moses wrote:'This doesn't mean Albert Einstein was wrong, any more than his theory of Special Relativity meant Isac Newton was wrong. '
No but it'll be interesting to see how it turns out. And it should remind us all that many absolute scientific truths only remain true until someone comes up with a better truth. The world ain't flat any more either.
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Bartek
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Yes, and that is what we call 'progress'.
and btw.- I just bought 'brief history of time'; it looks that I can throw it now. :lol:
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James Blast
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"We don't allow faster than light neutrinos in here" said the bartender.
A neutrino walks into a bar.
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moses
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stufarq wrote: No but it'll be interesting to see how it turns out. And it should remind us all that many absolute scientific truths only remain true until someone comes up with a better truth. The world ain't flat any more either.
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markfiend
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moses wrote:There are no truths in science, only questions and theories
Technically that is the case, but...

If (and it's a big if) the result is confirmed, and the neutrinos really were travelling faster than light, it just means that there are borderline circumstances in which relativity isn't a complete description. (And we knew that anyway; relativity can't currently be reconciled with quantum theory at the sub-atomic scale.)

The computer you're reading this on, your sat-nav, your DVD player, and all sorts of other things, all rely on relativity being "true" in all other circumstances.
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million voices
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I don't really understand

Are they now saying that relativity is only relatively true

or is it

These neutrino johnnies haven't yet been drugs tested
Well you must know something
'Cos we're dying of admiration here
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Bartek
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They said that it was tested 1500 times. Special deliveries from Switzerland to Italy.
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Nikolas Vitus Lagartija
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timsinister wrote:There could be a wealth of alternative explanations - extradimensional transference, or maybe a new form of energy field we haven't yet encountered...

The possibilities are endless! We live in exciting times.
Judging by your current avatar I suspect that you know more about this than you're letting on, Tim :)
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