Completely Optional Knowledge fan Tom Sortodden of Norway wants to know what would happen if he were able to travel at the speed of light.
We called up physicist Shohini Ghose of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada, an expert in quantum teleportation. Together, we explore (OK, she she painstakingly explains to us) the implications of Einstein’s special theory of relativity, which tells us that a human body reaching light speed on its own is not possible. Assuming that Tom can climb into an amazing space ship and hit the gas (and not talk about Star Trek), Dr. Ghose says looking out the window would be like being inside a Picasso painting — everything’s distorted. Also, Tom shouldn’t expect to find his dog waiting for him when he gets back.
Prepare to have your mind blown or a few circuits broken.
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