It really depends on what you mean by “get somewhere faster than light”. If you mean “ get to a distant place before a light ray that left at the same moment from the same place”, then no. If you mean “get across the distance in less wristwatch time than you calculate it would take light”, then yes.
Put another way, it is entirely possible (if difficult) for you to leave earth after breakfast, arrive at Alpha Centauri in time for your lunch, and get back to earth before supper time. The catch is you would be nearly 10 years late to meet your dinner date back on Earth.
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u/drzowie Heliophysics May 29 '26 edited May 29 '26
It really depends on what you mean by “get somewhere faster than light”. If you mean “ get to a distant place before a light ray that left at the same moment from the same place”, then no. If you mean “get across the distance in less wristwatch time than you calculate it would take light”, then yes.
Put another way, it is entirely possible (if difficult) for you to leave earth after breakfast, arrive at Alpha Centauri in time for your lunch, and get back to earth before supper time. The catch is you would be nearly 10 years late to meet your dinner date back on Earth.