Physicists crack the problem of the trams

t’s physics, folks, but not as we know it. In a world of uncertainty, physicists have always had the comfort of knowing that one thing is certain: nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. Albert Einstein was the first to point this out. Without troubling readers with mathematical equations, this is based on the wisdom that it is impossible to see the effect of something – say, a tram arriving on Princes Street – before the cause – pouring millions of pounds into Bilfinger Berger’s coffers – has happened.

It’s physics, folks, but not as we know it. In a world of uncertainty, physicists have always had the comfort of knowing that one thing is certain: nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. Albert Einstein was the first to point this out. Without troubling readers with mathematical equations, this is based on the wisdom that it is impossible to see the effect of something – say, a tram arriving on Princes Street – before the cause – pouring millions of pounds into Bilfinger Berger’s coffers – has happened.

But now scientists in Switzerland have managed to pour zillions of tiny particles (neutrinos) into a machine and recorded them arriving at another machine in Italy 732 kilometres away a tiny fraction of a second before they should have done had they been travelling at the speed of light. Fantastic. Whaur’s yer Einstein noo?

Physicists now speculate that if these results are right, all sorts of things, such as time travel or arriving somewhere before you have departed, are possible. Excellent. Let’s pour Bilfinger Berger and a pile of concrete and steel into this machine in Switzerland, aim it at Edinburgh, and trams will appear before we have spent any money. Well, can anyone think of a better idea for getting these trams up and running?