It will of course be received there practically instantaneously. Now, at 11.05 pm – about ten minutes time – the Ansible here will send a signal using coded neutrinos out to that rocket. And that diagonal line? That’s the NASA rocket currently powering out beyond Jupiter. “See the vertical axis on this graph? That’s us, here at CERN. Randall cleared her throat and pointed to a diagram which now appeared on the screen behind her while appearing to avoid or ignore the question. The room visibly hushed – this had obviously been news to some here. Would I be right in thinking that you’ve got some explosives there on the desk beside you? What’s all that about?’ I was still fixated on the detonation charge and in this I was not alone – a nervous hack from The Times shot his hand in the air. It’s currently passing the planet Jupiter, travelling at approximately 10% of the speed of light.” There’s one here, and another on a NASA fusion-powered rocket boosting away from us even as I speak. ‘We decided to call this instantaneous communicator an Ansible, after similar devices described in science fiction. There was a subdued gasp from the crowd as she pointed to the device on the table beside her. Over the years we have improved the equipment and I can announce today that we have achieved practically instantaneous communication over interplanetary distances.’ ‘Ladies and Gentlemen of the press,’ Professor Randall began, ‘tonight you will see the most astonishing confirmation of superluminal communication, a journey which began with the discovery of neutrinos travelling faster than light here at CERN back in 2011. The final rays of the setting sun cast a pale fire upon the mountain tops, while in the deep indigo sky the first stars were coming into view. They had decided to hold it on the Press Center Balcony, overlooking Lake Geneva. It was a balmy evening here at CERN, scene for one of the most momentous press conferences ever.
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Despite the hubbub – the journalists jostling for that final refill of wine, the smoke, the noise and confusion – I couldn’t help noticing how Professor Randall kept stroking the explosives pack strapped to her astonishing piece of equipment.