An Indian-American professor of electrical and computer engineering at Louisiana State University has claimed to have solved Einstein's twin paradox, known as one of the most enduring puzzles of modern-day physics.
First suggested by Albert Einstein more than 100 years ago, the paradox deals with the effects of time in the context of travel at near the speed of light.
Einstein originally used the example of two clocks -- one motionless, one in transit. The paradox has been described using the analogy of twins: If one twin is placed on a spacecraft travelling near the speed of light while the other twin remains earthbound, the unmoved twin would have aged dramatically compared with his interstellar sibling.
"I solved the paradox by incorporating a new principle within the relativity framework that defines motion not in relation to individual objects, such as the two twins with respect to each other, but in relation to distant stars," said the scientist Subhash Kak.
In his work, he uses probabilistic relationships to assume that general properties of the universe do not vary by location.
His formula completes attempts by others, as well as Einstein himself.
Professor Kak, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, is currently Delaune distinguished professor of Electrical Engineering and professor in the Asian Studies and Cognitive Science Programs at LSU, Baton Rouge.
Kak said the implications of his resolution will be widespread, generally enhancing the scientific community`s comprehension of relativity and possibly impacting quantum communications.