Shocking theory: Particles faster than light could rewrite the laws of the universe

The mysteries of time and space have long fascinated scientists, yet the deepest enigmas of modern physics remain unresolved. What if particles didn’t just approach the speed of light, but actually surpassed it? The idea of particles faster than light is not merely a sci-fi vision—according to the latest theories, it could open entirely new dimensions in our understanding of how the universe operates.

The physical laws describing the workings of the universe have shaped our thinking about the nature of space and time for centuries. According to Albert Einstein’s theory of special relativity, space and time together form a four-dimensional fabric, with three dimensions of space and one of time.

Quantum mechanics, however, sets out a very different—and often seemingly contradictory—set of rules for particle behaviour, where causality itself appears to break down. As Popular Mechanics notes, a 2022 study suggests that these strange phenomena can also be interpreted from an entirely new perspective, potentially transforming the way we think about time, space, and particles. Also, if we are at quantum mechanics, did Einstein get it wrong? Two new experiments may finally settle one of physics’ greatest debates.

Why are particles faster than light so special?

The concept of particles faster than light—so-called tachyons—has long intrigued physicists. If they existed, they would completely upend our understanding of the universe. According to Einstein’s theory of special relativity, no object can accelerate beyond the speed of light. Yet the theory does not rule out the reverse: it is conceivable that objects could exist which are inherently faster than light, and which could never slow below it.

Researchers suggest that from the perspective of particles faster than light, the established relationship between space and time could be radically reorganised. In our everyday world, there are three spatial dimensions and one time dimension, but with tachyons, the situation could be inverted: three dimensions of time and only one of space. Within this framework, particles could traverse multiple paths simultaneously, effectively moving toward several parallel futures at once.

How could this change our understanding of the universe?

Although this idea is currently a thought experiment, it could help explain some of quantum mechanics’ most mysterious phenomena. Oddities such as quantum entanglement or the wave-like nature of particles would become natural processes if particles could simultaneously move toward multiple futures. Interpreting these phenomena through the lens of particles faster than light could turn apparent contradictions into logically consistent rules.

The existence of these particles would fundamentally challenge the structure of the universe itself. In conventional physics, particles occupy definite positions and trajectories, but surpassing the speed of light would render the very notion of a particle obsolete, replacing it with fields that propagate as waves across spacetime.

Because particles would no longer be confined to a single path, multiple possible futures could exist simultaneously. While the theory may seem almost inconceivable, it aligns quantum entanglement with the fundamental laws of the universe and resolves previously apparent contradictions.

Also, did you know that a day on Earth wasn’t always 24 hours long? When the Moon formed around our planet, a day was around 10 hours, and still continues to slow our days. Does that mean that the planet’s rotation could once stop?

The quantum mechanical and cosmological significance of the theory

Particles faster than light could shed new light not only on quantum mechanics but also on cosmology. In the early universe, the conventional understanding of space and time may not have applied. By exploring the theoretical existence of particles faster than light, researchers could gain insight into the processes that occurred immediately after the Big Bang.

The theory also suggests that the fundamental rules governing the universe may not be intuitive. Concepts such as causality, the progression from past to future, and the hierarchy of space and time could all be reinterpreted if particles faster than light are taken into account. This opens radically new possibilities for physical research, as well as for bridging quantum mechanics and cosmology.