Consider the following statements : 1. Discovery of Higgs boson of which scientists are almost certain, may discard Einstein's special theory of relativity. 2. Probable discovery of a particle which moves faster than light may prove Stephen Hawking wrong. 3. Probable discovery of a particle that moves faster than light may go against Einstein’s special theory of relativity. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Statement 1 is incorrect because the discovery of the Higgs boson actually confirms the Standard Model of particle physics and is consistent with Einstein's theories. Statement 2 is incorrect; while Stephen Hawking famously bet against the Higgs discovery, the hypothetical existence of faster-than-light (FTL) particles does not inherently prove him wrong, as his work primarily focused on general relativity and black holes. Statement 3 is correct because a cornerstone of Einstein's special theory of relativity is that the speed of light in a vacuum is the universal speed limit for matter and information [1]. The 2011 OPERA experiment's mistaken observation of FTL neutrinos was considered anomalous specifically because such speeds would violate special relativity [1]. While some theoretical frameworks attempt to reconcile hypothetical tachyons with relativity, any confirmed FTL particle would fundamentally challenge the established causal structure of Einstein's theory.

Sources

1. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_OPERA_faster-than-light_neutrino_anomaly