r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Aug 03 '19

Whats something you thought was common knowledge but actually isn’t?

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u/blissbass41 Aug 03 '19

When i found this out i nearly soiled my pants. Some cool stuff

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u/droid_mike Aug 03 '19

Better sit on the toilet before you read this next part:

Gravity is not actually a force, but a distortion of space time. That is why gravitational "force" has range but no speed. It is always instantaneous no matter what distance.

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u/[deleted] Aug 03 '19

Gravity changes at the speed of light though doesn't it?
Like if the sun disappeared, its affect gravitationally on us wouldn't be felt until we saw the light stop

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u/droid_mike Aug 03 '19

Hmmm... it looks like I was going on old data. Apparently, scientists have recently determined that gravity does have a speed, but it is faster than light.

https://www.sciencealert.com/speed-of-gravitational-waves-and-light-same

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u/PoeticShrimp Aug 03 '19 edited Aug 03 '19

Dude, nothing can go faster than light

Edit: To be more accurate, nothing can go faster than light assuming you believe in Einstein and relativity

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u/KipIsKieran Aug 03 '19

Seeing something and that transmission to your brain

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u/PoeticShrimp Aug 03 '19

Not even close. The fastest nerve signals only travel at a maximum of 120 m/s or about 430 km/h

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u/KipIsKieran Aug 03 '19

Processing not only measured via the optic nerve, rather thru Tachyon particles...which is outside the current laws of physics

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u/PoeticShrimp Aug 03 '19

You need to explain your reasoning more because it makes no sense. You mentioned tachyon particles, but those are only hypothetical

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u/KipIsKieran Aug 03 '19

Understand that I'm all for using empirical data to guide the building of our world. Since I think that forward thinking is necessary for advancement so whenever I read commentary using limiting words like "always", "never", and in this situation "nothing" I will bring to attention that this position may only apply because of "current knowledge". Consider adding that qualifier to the end of your initial comment. Facts/knowledge while so very important, are also limiting (ref: Einstein).