Does quantum theory violate the speed of light? | Claudia de Rham, João Magueijo, and Tim Maudlin
210Claudia de Rham, João Magueijo, and Tim Maudlin debate whether the speed of light is an absolute limit.
Do we have evidence of phenomena that breaks the universal speed limit?
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Ever since Einstein's special theory of relativity in 1905, it has been a central pillar of science that the speed of light is an absolute fixed limit. But critics argue this is a mistaken assumption that prevents physics from making progress. They maintain the period of cosmic inflation that, in the standard picture of cosmology, followed the Big Bang has to take place at many orders of magnitude faster than the speed of light. Moreover, researchers argue that Einstein's general theory of relativity never prohibited faster-than-light travel in the first place.
Should we abandon the sacrosanct idea nothing can exceed the speed of light as a flawed assumption that derails physics? Should we be less attached to Einstein and more open to new and alternative theories? Or are these dangerous proposals that threaten to undermine the remarkable successes of science over the last century?
#physics #quantum #quantummechanics
João Magueijo is a Portugese cosmologist and Professor of theoretical physics at Imperial College, and a pioneer of varying speed of light theory.
Claudia de Rham is a prize winning theoretical cosmologist, known for her theory of massive gravity which is seen as an explanation for the acceleration of the universe and an alternative to dark energy.
Tim Maudlin is a leading professor of the philosophy of science at New York University who proposes that we should determine our metaphysics from physics.
Hosted by post-realist philosopher Hilary Lawson.
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00:00 Introduction
00:20 Is the speed of light an absolute fixed limit?
01:07 João Magueijo on why we shouldn't assume the speed of light is constant
02:15 Claudia de Rham on Einstein's theory of special relativity
05:19 Tim Maudlin on Bell's Theorem, quantum mechanics, and the speed of light
08:14 Is Einstein's theory no longer sacrosanct?
08:51 Are observations more important than theories?
11:00 The variability of light from different cosmological events
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