Will Physicists Have to Rewrite The Special Theory of Relativity?

11 October 2011

The dome of CERN near Geneva, Switzerland.

DOUG JOHNSON: Welcome to EXPLORATIONS, in VOA Special English. I’m Doug Johnson.

This week, we hear about developments in physics that, if proven correct, could have scientists rewriting physics textbooks. Scientists in Switzerland say they have measured a kind of subatomic particle traveling faster than the speed of light. Physics and the special theory of relativity say that is impossible.

We also hear about an American scientist who is developing easy-to-use technology to harvest electrical energy from the simple act of walking. Tom Krupenkin hopes the technology can provide an environmentally friendly way to power mobile electronic devices anywhere.

But first, we hear about a research center where scientists are busy studying the many forms of life that call the tropical rainforest home. Hundreds of scientists are working at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. This year, the Research Institute is celebrating its one hundredth anniversary.

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MARIO RITTER: Light barely reaches the ground of the dense rainforest on Barro Colorado Island in Panama.

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In the early morning hours, two researchers are looking for monkeys. Anthropology Professor Stephanie Ramirez is an expert on spider monkeys.