FLYING THROUGH TIMEDecember 22, 1999UK scientists demonstrate Einstein's theories of relativity and 'travel' through time Science fiction has turned to science fact with a practical demonstration of time travel by scientists from the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Two super-accurate atomic clocks - accurate to within 1 second in 300,000 years - were synchronised by the scientists led by Dr John Laverty, Head of Time at the NPL. One was then flown to Shanghai and back on a scheduled Virgin Airways flight. Remarkably, the 'flying' clock was shown to be 55 nanoseconds faster than the one that stayed behind - a difference predicted by Einstein and his theories of relativity. His special theory of relativity says that the faster you travel, the slower time passes for you - a common experience on long haul flights! Whilst Einstein's general theory of relativity says that at high altitude time travels faster due to the effect of reduced gravitational fields. The NPL's Time Lord, Dr. John Laverty says: 'The effect due to general relativity (height) will be greater than that due to special relativity (speed) so from a time perspective the 'flying clock' is older than the clock that 'stayed at home. I am sure that many frequent flyers will agree with this conclusion. 'We can't travel at extreme speeds yet - but if we could travel at say 300,000 km per second (87 per cent of the speed of light!) - then we would return from a journey lasting 25 years to discover our friends and family had aged by 50 years.' The results of the flying atomic clock experiment will be presented by Dr Neil Johnson of Oxford University as part of the Royal Institution's 'Arrows of Time' Christmas lectures for children. The lectures will be broadcast on BBC2 at around 11.00am (times vary) from 26 December - until 30 December 1999. ends All press enquiries Katharine Hale/Andy Matthews Tel:020 7580 0222 Fax:020 7580 0333 Email:katharineh@keycommunications.co.uk Issued on behalf of the National Physical Laboratory by Key Communications Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Paris (IRD) |
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