The idea that nothing can travel faster than light is one of the most fundamental principles of modern physics. However, new research suggests that this statement may not be entirely accurate.
As Albert Einstein clarified in 1905, the true limitation applies to the transmission of information—not necessarily to every physical phenomenon. Building on this distinction, an international team of researchers now argues that “darkness,” under certain conditions, can exhibit faster-than-light behavior.
Rather than measuring darkness directly, scientists focused on so-called “dark points” within light waves—microscopic regions where the wave amplitude drops to zero. These points, often referred to as “zero points,” form vortex-like structures similar to whirlpools in flowing water.
According to a study published in Nature, these optical singularities can display superluminal motion, particularly at the moments they are created or annihilated.
To observe this effect, researchers employed a highly advanced laser-based microscopy system along with a thin layer of hexagonal boron nitride. In this medium, light transforms into polaritons—hybrid entities of light and matter—which significantly slow down light’s speed.
Under these conditions, scientists were able to detect vortices of dark points moving faster than light, without violating fundamental physical laws, since no information is transmitted in the process.
Lead researcher Ido Kaminer noted that the findings reveal universal laws governing all types of waves, potentially opening new avenues for studying hidden processes across physics, chemistry, and biology.