• Question: What is faster the speed of light or the speed of the mind?

    Asked by 966radg49 to Ajay, Kate, Kuntal, Pip, Reka on 10 Nov 2016. This question was also asked by Riddi5, rob.
    • Photo: Reka Nagy

      Reka Nagy answered on 10 Nov 2016:

      The speed of the mind depends on how quickly our brain cells can transmit information through electrical impulses. As far as we know, the fastest-signalling nerves transmit impulses at around 120 meters/second.
      The speed of light is 300,000,000 meters/second in vacuum, so light is the clear winner, travelling nearly 2 and a half million times faster than the impulses in our nerves.

    • Photo: Kate Elliott

      Kate Elliott answered on 11 Nov 2016:

      Good question! The speed of light is the fastest thing we know of, however, there is a lot we don’t understand about the mind. We know how nerves transmit impulses (and they’re much slower) but is that the whole story? :O

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