Why Cant We Travel Faster Than Light?
TL;DR Summary
The universal speed limit is 299,792 kilometers per second. Why does the universe enforce this strict limit?
Einsteins Revelation
According to Albert Einstein's theory of Special Relativity, the speed of light in a vacuum (c) is constant and independent of the observer. As an object with mass accelerates, its relativistic mass increases. As it approaches the speed of light, its mass approaches infinity.
Infinite Energy
Because an object's mass approaches infinity, the energy required to accelerate it further also approaches infinity. Therefore, it would take an infinite amount of energy to accelerate any object with mass to the speed of light. Since infinite energy is impossible, nothing with mass can ever reach or exceed c.
Time Dilation
As you move faster, time slows down for you relative to a stationary observer. If you were to somehow travel at the speed of light, time would stop completely. If you traveled faster than light, time would theoretically run backward, violating the fundamental principle of causality (cause and effect).