[link] Faster than light neutrinos due to loose fiber optic cable.

betterthanwell

A mundane cause for a surprising result. Consider this unconfirmed for now, however unsurprising it sounds.

According to sources familiar with the experiment, the 60 nanoseconds discrepancy appears to come from a bad connection between a fiber optic cable that connects to the GPS receiver used to correct the timing of the neutrinos' flight and an electronic card in a computer. After tightening the connection and then measuring the time it takes data to travel the length of the fiber, researchers found that the data arrive 60 nanoseconds earlier than assumed. Since this time is subtracted from the overall time of flight, it appears to explain the early arrival of the neutrinos.

New data, however, will be needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Source: Science/AAAS

A mundane cause for a surprising result. Consider this unconfirmed for now, however unsurprising it sounds.

According to sources familiar with the experiment, the 60 nanoseconds discrepancy appears to come from a bad connection between a fiber optic cable that connects to the GPS receiver used to correct the timing of the neutrinos' flight and an electronic card in a computer. After tightening the connection and then measuring the time it takes data to travel the length of the fiber, researchers found that the data arrive 60 nanoseconds earlier than assumed. Since this time is subtracted from the overall time of flight, it appears to explain the early arrival of the neutrinos.

New data, however, will be needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Source: Science/AAAS

Could someone expand on this? I don't get it.

I have a possible explanation. However I have very little confidence in it and primarily proffer it for entertainment value, since I think Douglas_Knight's post may have been a joke.

There have been 4 opera threads I've noted. This one, and 3 previous.

http://lesswrong.com/lw/8hh/opera_confirms_neutrinos_travel_faster_than_light/ (November, XiXiDu)

http://lesswrong.com/r/discussion/lw/83c/particles_may_not_have_broken_light_speed_limit/ (October, Me)

http://lesswrong.com/lw/7rc/particles_break_lightspeed_limit/ (September, Kevin)

September was the initial threa... (read more)