According to our current understanding of physics based on Einstein's theory of relativity, it is not possible for an object with mass to travel faster than the speed of light in a vacuum. The speed of light in a vacuum, denoted by the symbol 'c', is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second (or about 186,282 miles per second).
When an object with mass approaches the speed of light, its energy and momentum increase significantly. As the object's speed gets closer to the speed of light, its energy and momentum approach infinity, which means an infinite amount of energy would be required to accelerate the object further.
If somehow an object were to exceed the speed of light, it would violate the principles of causality and lead to a range of paradoxes and contradictions. For example, it would imply the possibility of traveling backward in time and would challenge the notion of cause and effect.
In terms of measurement, the speed of light is typically determined using various experimental techniques, such as timing the travel of light over a known distance or through interference patterns. The value of the speed of light in a vacuum is considered a fundamental constant of nature.
The concept of traveling faster than light has been explored in science fiction and is often referred to as "superluminal" travel. However, as of our current understanding of physics, it remains purely speculative and not supported by empirical evidence or scientific theory.