Loose Cable Behind CERN Faster-than-light Result

Posted: February 25th, 2012 | Author: Michael Courtenay | Filed under: Applied Science, Favorite New Thought, Outside the Box, Physics, Quantum Physics | Tags: Albert Einstein, CERN, European Organization for Nuclear Research, Fermilab, Gran Sasso Laboratory, Indiana University Professor Alan Kostelecky, Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics, James Gillies Head of Communication, Jenny Thomas, neutrinos, OPERA, Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Physics, Quantum Theory, sub-atomic particles, Theory of Relativity, University College of London | No Comments »

Loose Cable Behind CERN Faster-than-light Result The controversial finding that cast a large shadow of doubt over Einstein’s belief that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light might have been caused by a loose cable, the lab behind the result said. Physicists at the CERN laboratory near Geneva appeared to contradict Albert Einstein last year when they reported that sub-atomic particles called neutrinos could travel fractions of a second faster than light. Einstein had said nothing could travel faster than light.

James Gillies, a spokesman for CERN, said the lab’s startling result was now in doubt. Earlier on Wednesday, the website ScienceInsider reported the surprising result was down to a loose fibre optic cable linking a Global Positioning System satellite receiver to a computer. ScienceInsider is run by the respected American Association for the Advancement of Science. Mr Gillies confirmed a flaw in the GPS system was now suspected as a possible cause for the surprising reading. Gillies’ says further testing was needed before any definite conclusions could be reached ::::

The faster-than-light finding was recorded when 15,000 neutrino beams were pumped over three years from CERN to an underground Italian laboratory at Gran Sasso near Rome. ”A possible explanation has been found. But we won’t know until we have tested it out with a new beam to Gran Sasso,” Mr Gillies said in Geneva.

Physicists on the experiment, called OPERA, said when they reported it last September that they had checked and rechecked over many months anything that could have produced a misreading before announcing what they had found. A second test whose results were announced in November appeared to provide further evidence that neutrinos were travelling faster than light. Many experts remained sceptical of a result that would have overturned one of the fundamental principles of modern physics. Mr Gillies said CERN would be issuing a full statement shortly.