Neutrino experiment affirms faster-than-light claim

Re:Neutrino experiment affirms faster-than-light claim by breadbox on Thursday November 17, 2011 @08:43PM (#3250151)

To be precise, this latest experiment only ruled out one possible source of error (namely, bias in the detection of arriving neutrinos causing it to preferentially detect neutrinos at the forefront of the pulse). This doesn't affirm that the neutrinos actually exceeded light-speed.

But it is an important step towards understanding what's happening, and it's great that the OPERA group were able to put together this followup experiment so quickly.

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Re:Neutrino experiment affirms faster-than-light claim by jessriedel on Thursday November 17, 2011 @09:52PM (#3250374)

> This doesn't affirm that the neutrinos actually exceeded light-speed.

You might be thinking of "confirm". This certainly is an example of the OPERA group affirming their results.

> Affirm. v. 1. State as a fact; assert strongly and publicly. 2. Declare one's support for; uphold or defend.

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Re:Neutrino experiment affirms faster-than-light claim by compman775 on Thursday November 17, 2011 @10:28PM (#3250463)

Take a look at definition 1 in your post.

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Re:Neutrino experiment affirms faster-than-light claim by ars on Thursday November 17, 2011 @10:37PM (#3250482)

Affirm means to say it [again] (without adding any more information). It basically means "Yes I really did/do mean it".

Confirm means to check again.

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Re:Neutrino experiment affirms faster-than-light claim by burgerbrain on Friday November 18, 2011 @12:36AM (#3250726)

The way English works, not all of the dictionary definitions for a word need to apply to any particular usage.

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Re:Neutrino experiment affirms faster-than-light claim by topbanana on Friday November 18, 2011 @08:41AM (#3251657)

I think all dictionaries work in this way, not just English ones

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Re:Neutrino experiment affirms faster-than-light claim by espinchi on Friday November 18, 2011 @09:07AM (#3251738)

Indeed, as stated by the internal communication note:

This test confirms the accuracy of OPERA's timing measurement, ruling out one potential source of systematic error. The new measurements do not change the initial conclusion. Nevertheless, the observed anomaly in the neutrinos' time of flight from CERN to Gran Sasso still needs further scrutiny and independent measurement before it can be refuted or confirmed.

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Re:Neutrino experiment affirms faster-than-light claim by sidcool on Thursday November 17, 2011 @11:29PM (#3250608)

Oops...I just posted this link on my Facebook account with the sensational heading "Foundations of physics shaken again". I will remove it.

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