Discussion between Lloyd and Simon involves tachyons, which might be quite familiar to sci-fi fans. A tachyon is a hypothetical particle that moves at a speed greater than light. As this violates the laws of physics in a number of respects, virtually all scientists in physics believe it to be totally impossible. The actual hypothetical nature of a tachyon is more of a field than a particle. This falls in line with Falshforward's story of an enormous field having caused a global blackout.