Changes

=== Decrease in the speed of light ===

=== Decrease in the speed of light ===

* Creationist [[Barry Setterfield]] has proposed that the speed of light was faster in the past. <ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2002/0809_cdk_davies.asp</ref> This idea is widely accepted by creationists. In 1999, John Webb, a professor at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, and his colleagues reported astronomical observations suggesting that the value of the fine-structure constant (which is related to the speed of light) may have changed which they subsequently published in 2001 in ''[[Physical Review Letters]]''.<ref>http://www.nature.com/physics/highlights/6849-3.html#ref1</ref><ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/news/fine_structure.asp</ref> If correct, then various theories that constants have always may need to be changed.<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/news/fine_structure.asp</ref> When Barry Setterfield took the position that the speed of light was much faster in the past the main objection was the purported constancy of fundamental laws.<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/news/fine_structure.asp</ref> 

Creationist [[Barry Setterfield]] has proposed that the speed of light was faster in the past. <ref>Norman and Setterfield, 1986</ref>

This idea initially found wide acceptance by creationists, but is now widely rejected, although some still hold to the idea.

 

One criticism of it by anticreationists was that if the speed of light had changed, we should see the difference in the [[Fine Structure Constant]] as measured by nearby stars versus distant stars, but this was not observed.

Yet in 1999, John Webb, a professor at the University of New South Wales in [[Sydney]], Australia, and his colleagues reported astronomical observations suggesting that the value of the fine-structure constant may indeed have changed.  They subsequently published this in ''[[Physical Review Letters]]''.<ref>[http://www.nature.com/physics/highlights/6849-3.html#ref1 Inconstant constant?] ''Physical Review Letters 091301'' (9th August 2001)</ref><ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/news/fine_structure.asp</ref>

However, although this showed that mainstream scientists are prepared to entertain the idea of a change in the speed of light when it suits them, the size of the change did not provide specific support for Setterfield's idea.

 

In addition, there were other problems with the theory, leading most creationists to drop the idea, although some credit it with stimulating further research.

=== Time dilation field ===

=== Time dilation field ===