The scientific universe has fundamental constants. These constants are equivalent to a numerical value, which does not change, the speed of light in a vacuum for example. One of the famous names in this field is Albert Einstein but it seems like he will be challenged by new people.
In the 19th century, many physicists have measured the speed of light in a vacuum. All their experiments ended with the same finding. The value of the speed of light in a vacuum is always 299.792,458 meters per second. It was in the late 70s where the experimentations reached a level of precision.
None of them knew the why this was the case until Albert Einstein described it and developed the theory of relativity. Albert Einstein is probably the most popular scientist whose name has been recognized in the pop culture as well.
High-school physics would explain that light can travel both as electromagnetic waves and as particles or photons. Eintein's hypothesis states that if something could travel faster than the speed of light it will be able to observe a stationary electro magnetic wave. It would break the fundamental laws of Physics.
For Albert Einstein's hypothesis also states that for his theory of relativity to work, the speed of light must remain constant. Within century since Albert Einstein's theory of relativity was developed, all his conclusions have been proven to be correct.
It was until 1998 when João Magueijo of Imperial College London raised a question. He challenges that what if the assumption that the speed of light in a vacuum remains constant.
João Magueijo propositioned to solve the "horizon problem," on of the biggest problems in physics; they might have to challenge the idea that the speed of light in a vacuum is constant. The "horizon problem" states that long before energy-carrying photons moving at constant speed could have had the time to reach all bends of the expanding universe, it has already reached a uniform temperature.
Inflation is the most accepted explanation for the horizon problem. It proposes that, after the Big Bang, the temperature was even. The theory though mostly accepted did not sit well with quite a number of scientists. No one was able to explain why the inflation started and why it stopped.
João Magueijo's search for the explanation for inflation that made him challenge the speed of light being constant. To prove his explanation he has to come up with a testable hypothesis. João Magueijo, along with Niavesh Afsordi of Perimeter institute has proposed a testable hypothesis and will publish a study in the journal "Physical Review" this 28 November.
Their proposition is that at the very beginning of the universe, light and gravity travelled at different speeds. The temperature reached equilibrium due to photons moving faster than gravity, giving them enough time to travel all corners of the universe.
A CMB or cosmic microwave background radiation is a fossilized impression of the early universe. Physicists use cosmic microwave background radiation to test the hypothesis. The hypothesis proposes that the change in CMB is relative to the change in the speed of light and the speed of gravity as the the universe undergoes a change in temperature.
The value they predict, called the spectral index, which is 0.96478. The value describes the density ripples in the universe. Magueijo's and Afshordi's theory can only be debunked if future measurements of the CMB or cosmic microwave background radiation show a mismatch. Which means that the speed of light is constant and their theory did not work.