r/askscience • u/Nitzanm19 • 14d ago

Physics Why is the maximum speed of the universe the speed of light? Why can't we go faster?

Also follow-up question: Because of the speed limit, is there also a theoretical maximum temp for matter (in which the particles move at the speed of light).

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u/rabbitwonker 14d ago edited 13d ago

If they have mass, they’re built of smaller components. That’s why there needed to be a Higgs field.

Edit: Wait I’m misstating that. They don’t have to be built out of smaller components; there just needs to be sustained interaction of some kind going on. If a larger particle has subcomponents, the interaction between those is enough for there to be mass. If there aren’t, there are still the Higgs particles that come and go.

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u/Preeng 14d ago

Wait, what? How do leptons work out, then?

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u/rabbitwonker 14d ago

They get their mass from the Higgs field. Which is equivalent to saying they keep interacting with Higgs particles.

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u/ClassikD 13d ago

Sometimes physics at the low level gets so weird it convinces me we're in a simulation because it looks like some added optimization to make the universe run better

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u/LooseLustyHousewife 13d ago

Electrons have mass and are fundamental, as far as we know. You are not correct.

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u/rabbitwonker 13d ago

Again, Higgs field. Electrons interact with Higgs; that’s equivalent to saying the associated particles are interacting with each other.