Question

How did scientists find out that nothing could ever move faster than the speed of light? Why hasn't anything been able to do so yet (or will it)?

Answer 1

The understanding that nothing with mass can travel faster than the speed of light is derived from the theory of special relativity, proposed by Albert Einstein in 1905. The theory of special relativity is based on two fundamental postulates:

1. The laws of physics are the same in all inertial reference frames.
2. The speed of light in a vacuum is constant and is the same for all observers, regardless of their relative motion.

From these postulates, a number of important conclusions are derived, including the concept of time dilation and length contraction at high velocities. One of the key insights of special relativity is that as an object with mass accelerates, its energy and momentum increase, approaching infinity as it approaches the speed of light. As a result, it would require an infinite amount of energy to accelerate a massive object to reach or exceed the speed of light.

This understanding is supported by extensive experimental evidence and has been confirmed by numerous observations and measurements. For example, particle accelerators like the Large Hadron Collider have accelerated subatomic particles to extremely high velocities, but they still fall short of the speed of light.

It is important to note that special relativity does not prohibit objects from moving faster than the speed of light through a medium, such as light traveling through water or glass. In these cases, the speed of light is reduced due to interactions with the medium, but it still remains below the speed of light in a vacuum.

While our current understanding of physics suggests that objects with mass cannot exceed the speed of light, it is always possible for future scientific discoveries to challenge or revise our understanding. However, any such revisions would require compelling evidence and would need to account for the extensive experimental confirmation of the principles of special relativity. As of now, there is no experimental evidence or theoretical framework that supports the possibility of objects with mass traveling faster than the speed of light.