Researchers at CERN released a statement that an experiment had recorded subatomic particles, known as neutrinos, traveling faster than the speed of light.
The result, if confirmed, would upend the field of physics, as Einstein’s theory of relativity is based on the idea that nothing can travel faster than light.
“This result comes as a complete surprise,” said Antonio Ereditato of the University of Bern, a spokesman for the experiment, in a statement on the CERN web site. “After many months of studies and cross checks we have not found any instrumental effect that could explain the result of the measurement.” However, he added, “the potential impact on science is too large to draw immediate conclusions or attempt physics interpretations.”
