According to our current understanding of physics, everything in the universe, including matter, energy, and information, must travel at speeds equal to or less than the speed of light in a vacuum. This principle is a fundamental aspect of special relativity, a theory developed by Albert Einstein.
Special relativity postulates that the speed of light in a vacuum is a universal constant denoted by "c," approximately 299,792,458 meters per second. It establishes that nothing with mass can reach or exceed this speed. As an object with mass approaches the speed of light, its energy and momentum increase, and it requires an infinite amount of energy to accelerate to the speed of light.
Particles with mass, such as atoms, molecules, and even massive celestial bodies, must obey this speed limit. It means that they can never reach or surpass the speed of light. On the other hand, massless particles, such as photons (particles of light), always travel at the speed of light.
It is important to note that the restriction of speed to the speed of light applies to objects and information traveling through space. However, space itself can expand, as observed in the phenomenon of the universe's expansion. This expansion does not violate the speed of light limit because it is the fabric of space itself that is stretching, rather than objects within space moving through it.
It's worth mentioning that while our current understanding supports this limitation, there are areas of ongoing scientific research, such as quantum entanglement and the possibility of wormholes, where the boundaries of our knowledge are still being explored. However, within the framework of established physics, the speed of light serves as a fundamental speed limit for all objects and information in the universe.