Can Data Travel Faster Than Light Computation?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of whether data can travel faster than light and the implications of such a scenario on the computation of decrypted messages. Participants explore the theoretical aspects of data transmission speed, aging, and the potential advantages of faster-than-light communication.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if data traveling faster than light could lead to quicker computation of decrypted messages.
  • Another participant asserts that information cannot be sent faster than the speed of light.
  • A participant asks if data sent at the speed of light and bounced back would be "younger," indicating a potential misunderstanding of the concept of aging in relation to data transmission.
  • Some participants clarify that data, as electromagnetic radiation, does not age and that its transmission speed does not affect its content.
  • There is a discussion about the implications of differential aging due to relativistic effects, but it is noted that data does not change based on transmission speed.
  • Participants express confusion about the concept of "time advantage" in relation to data transmission and computation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the implications of data transmission speed and the concept of aging in relation to data. There is no consensus on the original question regarding faster-than-light data transmission and its potential advantages.

Contextual Notes

Some statements reflect misunderstandings about the nature of data and its transmission, particularly regarding the concept of aging and the effects of speed on data content.

Gary101
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TL;DR
Data time advantage? Compute data faster? Data faster than light.
Hi bear with me I have a conundrum I want to ask you. If data traveled many times the speed of light could the results of decrypted cypher message be computed quicker than any system we currently have? For instance if we sent a burst of data at many times the speed of light across the solar system that was then bounced back to us would the data be younger than we could possible compute and therefore have a data time advantage?
 
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You can't send information faster than the speed of light.
 
If it was sent far enough at the speed of light and bounced back would the data be younger?
 
Gary101 said:
If it was sent far enough at the speed of light and bounced back would the data be younger?
No. Data, in the form of electromagnetic radiation (aka light), is sent at the speed of light. It's not clear what you mean by the data being younger?
 
I was under the impression that if you travel at the speed of light for long enough you age slower?
 
Gary101 said:
I was under the impression that if you travel at the speed of light for long enough you age slower?
You can only travel at below light speed, which may lead to differential ageing. Light doesn't age as it travels in any sense. And, data doesn't change depending on the speed it is transmitted.
 
Do you mean the data doesn't physically change or the time you receive it doesn't change?
 
Gary101 said:
Do you mean the data doesn't physically change or the time you receive it doesn't change?
If I send you a paper letter and an email with the same message, then you'll (probably) receive the email before the letter. But, the message is the same.
 
Yes the content of the message wouldn't differ but would the time advantage be quicker than any system we currently have?
 
  • #10
Gary101 said:
Yes the content of the message wouldn't differ but would the time advantage be quicker than any system we currently have?
What time advantage?
 
  • #11
If the data traveled at the speed of light for long enough would the data have an age differential?
 
  • #12
Gary101 said:
If the data traveled at the speed of light for long enough would the data have an age differential?
No, but it would take longer to get to you if I, for example, bounced a signal off of a mirror on the moon to get from DC to Chicago instead of sending it directly.

You really not barking up the wrong tree with this so much as you are barking up a tree that doesn't even exist. Study some basic physics.
 
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  • #13
Gary101 said:
If the data traveled at the speed of light for long enough would the data have an age differential?
Data doesn't have an age in that sense.
 
  • #14
It's a casual question just picking your brains which is the point.
 
  • #15
Good night and thanks for the replies PeroK
 

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