Light is the fastest-moving thing in the universe. So what would happen if the speed of light were much, much slower? In a vacuum, the speed of light is about 186,000 miles per second (300,000 ...
The speed of light is a fundamental constant, approximately 299,792,458 meters per second. It's the same for all observers and hasn't changed measurably over billions of years. Nothing can travel ...
Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Back in 2018, astronomers examining the ruins of two collided ...
In 1676, by studying the motion of Jupiter's moon Io, Danish astronomer Ole Rømer calculated that light travels at a finite speed. Two years later, building on data gathered by Rømer, Dutch ...
Hornof, D., Helm, V., de Dios Rodriguez, E. et al. A snapshot of relativistic motion: visualizing the Terrell-Penrose effect. Commun Phys 8, 161 (2025). https://doi ...
The principle of relativity, as initially described by Galileo, posits that the laws of physics remain consistent regardless of an observer's relative motion. Einstein's special relativity ...
An experiment has visualized a prediction about objects traveling at the speed of light known as the Terrell-Penrose effect, first made over 60 years ago. When an object approaches the speed of light ...
Chris Impey receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the Hearst Foundation. Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, ...