The claim that nothing can travel faster than light is a fundamental principle in the theory of relativity, which was formulated by Albert Einstein. This principle is derived from Einstein's theory of special relativity and is supported by a vast body of experimental evidence and observations.
According to special relativity, the speed of light in a vacuum is considered to be an absolute speed limit. It states that the laws of physics, including cause and effect, hold true for all observers regardless of their relative motion. As an object with mass approaches the speed of light, its energy and momentum increase, requiring an infinite amount of energy to reach or exceed the speed of light. This concept is often summarized by the famous equation E=mc², where E is energy, m is mass, and c is the speed of light.
The claim that nothing can travel faster than light is not merely based on hypotheses but is a fundamental aspect of the theory of relativity, which has been repeatedly confirmed through experimental observations. Numerous experiments and measurements have been conducted to test the predictions of relativity, and so far, they have consistently supported the notion that the speed of light is indeed an ultimate speed limit.
While it's always possible for scientific theories to evolve and be refined with new evidence, at present, the conclusion that nothing can travel faster than light remains strongly supported by the scientific community.