Researchers develop way to control speed of light, send it backward
Abouraddy and study co-author Esat Kondakci demonstrated they could speed a pulse of light up to 30 times the speed of light, slow it down to half the speed of light, and also make the pulse travel backward.
The researchers were able to develop the technique by using a special device known as a spatial light modulator to mix the space and time properties of light, thereby allowing them to control the velocity of the pulse of light.
I could maybe buy that they’ve found a way to make light go faster in a medium such as water or glass. But the claim seems to be that they can make light go 30 times faster in a vacuum.
It’s not clear if this is meant to be a faster pulse of light within the confines of their “spacial light modulator” machine, or if their notion is that they could sen a laser beam to Alpha Centauri in less than two months.