Faster than light neutrinos?
The news this morning (23rd September 2011) that researchers at CERN may have discovered neutrinos travelling faster than light is fascinating.
If it turns out to be true, it will overturn more than a century's worth of physics. Albert Einstein's theories of relativity will be seen to be wrong. Careers will be wrecked, and others built on new foundations - if it's true.
However, the physics that would be overturned is very well established both experimentally and theoretically. The most likely explanation remains that there is something wrong with the experiment.
If this discovery is confirmed, does it raise challenges for Christian believers? Someone emailed me this morning, asking:
'What does this mean for faith? I want to be an open minded believer but I don't want to be looked upon as uneducated and delusional.'
So does it raise challenges or questions for believers? Not as far as I can see:
The Christian faith was around for nearly two thousand years before the discovery that the speed of light is a constant, and that nothing can go faster than light. There isn't anything in our faith that depends on this discovery.
If this discovery does turn out to be true, it will have far-reaching implications. But it is far to early to guess what those implications will be.
David A Couchman MA M.Sc M.Min FRAS, September 2011