The Speed of Light

The speed of light is the fastest speed at which information or matter can travel in the universe, approximately 299,792 kilometers per second (about 186,282 miles per second) in a vacuum. This speed is fundamental in physics, defining how we perceive space and time. According to Einstein's theory of relativity, as objects approach the speed of light, time slows down for them relative to stationary observers, and mass increases. This speed limit affects everything from how we communicate over distances to our understanding of the cosmos, highlighting the interconnectedness of time, space, and light.