The absence of faster-than-light travel is not necessarily a "problem" in the sense of hindering our daily lives or immediate needs. It is more of a limitation imposed by our current understanding of physics and the laws of the universe. There are a few reasons why the absence of faster-than-light travel matters and why it is of interest to scientists and researchers:
Fundamental Laws of Physics: The speed of light serves as a fundamental constant in the theory of relativity and plays a crucial role in our understanding of the universe. It is deeply intertwined with concepts such as causality, time dilation, and the structure of space and time. The fact that light has a finite speed has profound implications for how we perceive the world and how the universe operates.
Limitations on Communication and Exploration: The speed of light sets a limit on how quickly information can travel. Communication and information transfer are essential for various aspects of our lives, including telecommunications, internet communication, and space exploration. The vast distances between celestial objects mean that even with the speed of light, interstellar communication and travel pose significant challenges.
Scientific Understanding and Predictability: The laws of physics are built on a foundation of consistency and predictability. If faster-than-light travel were possible, it could introduce contradictions and disrupt our current understanding of cause and effect relationships. It would challenge the principles of relativity, which have been extensively tested and verified through experiments.
Energy Requirements and Technological Feasibility: Accelerating an object with mass to the speed of light or beyond would require immense amounts of energy. As an object approaches the speed of light, its mass increases, necessitating an exponential amount of energy to accelerate further. Overcoming these energy requirements and engineering challenges is currently beyond our technological capabilities.
While the absence of faster-than-light travel may not directly impact our day-to-day lives, it remains a subject of scientific curiosity and exploration. It pushes researchers to seek a deeper understanding of the laws of the universe and to develop new technologies and theoretical frameworks that can expand our horizons in the future.