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TED-Ed

The physics behind Einstein’s most famous equation - Lindsay DeMarchi and Fabio Pacucci

Here's a Twitter post based on the transcript:

🚀 Why can't we travel faster than light? It's not just E=mc²!

Einstein's famous equation has a hidden variable (the Lorentz Factor) that literally breaks math when you hit light speed - dividing by zero is impossible!

But here's the twist: particles CAN exceed light speed underwater, creating that eerie blue Cherenkov glow ✨

The real reason? We're all traveling through "spacetime" - moving faster through space means moving slower through time. At light speed, time stops completely!

Fun fact: If we could somehow break this cosmic speed limit, reality might become kaleidoscopic and we could potentially time travel to meet Einstein himself! 🕰️

Physics #Einstein #SpaceTravel #Science #Relativity


Key insights from the transcript:
- The Lorentz Factor (gamma) is the mathematical reason light speed is impossible to exceed
- Spacetime is a unified system where speed through space trades off with speed through time
- Light speed can be exceeded in certain mediums (like water), creating Cherenkov radiation
- Approaching light speed would create visual distortions and potentially enable time travel
- The speed limit specifically applies to light in a vacuum, not all circumstances

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