Error undoes faster-than-light neutrino results
February 22, 2012
OPERA stands for Oscillation Project with Emulsion-tRacking Apparatus (credit: Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso)
It appears that the faster-than-light neutrino results, announced last September by the OPERA collaboration in Italy, was due to a mistake after all. A bad connection between a GPS unit and a computer may be to blame.
After tightening the connection and then measuring the time it takes data to travel the length of the fiber, researchers found that the data arrive 60 nanoseconds earlier than assumed.
CERN is expected to make an announcement Thursday.
[ Science Insider ]
Related Site Content:
- A six-sigma signal of superluminal neutrinos from OPERA | September 23, 2011
- OPERA neutrino experiment on breaking speed of light — UPDATE #3 | November 18, 2011
- OPERA neutrino experiment on breaking speed of light — Update #1: Live webcast, ArXiv paper posted | September 23, 2011
- Faster-than-light neutrinos dealt another blow | January 5, 2012
- Faster-than-light neutrino puzzle claimed solved by special relativity | October 14, 2011
Comments (6)
by Joe
I’m not even close to a theoretical physicist, but in some odd conceptual manner in my head, all that layman’s stuff I had read about Relativity and light speed all my life just wouldn’t parse with such weak evidence that was originally provided that gave the story any veracity. I found myself not convinced and attempting to explain why to many people who got excited about it.
by Robert
Tech Support Monkey: “Have you checked the cable connections?”
Theoretical Physicist: “Hmmm…”
by Publius
LOL. Perfect.
by Bernard
I imagine that physicist who said he would eat his underwear if the FTL thing proved to be true is breathing a sigh of relief.
by Publius
Newsflash: Foundations of the Universe still intact! Laws of Physics still valid! Causality still holds! Einstein triumphant again! Humans rejoice! Yay!
by gaoptimize
I predicted as much. Now all the High Frequency Trading IT folks can step back from their dream of pre-trade and re-focus on cramming their bots into an ever shorter distance from “the market”.