Ms. Mariastella Gelmini, currently Minister of Regional Affairs and Autonomies of the Italian Government, has announced today that the Neutrino Tunnel from the CERN in Switzerland and the Gran Sasso National Laboratory, Italy, has been approved by the Italian Government as part of the actions financed by the European Recovery Funds.
Ms. Mariastella Gelmini is on record for having mentioned the tunnel in a 2011 press release, when she was minister of Public Education and Scientific Research. She was heavily criticized for that, since no such tunnel existed at that time. But now, 10 years later, it appears clear that Gelmini's statement was prophetic.
The construction is expected to start before the end of 2021. It will involve a
considerable financial effort since the distance between the two
laboratiories is about 750 km. But the challenge, declared Ms. Gelmini,
is worth the effort since it opens the way to attain speeds higher than
light. These speeds, she added, could be especially useful for the members of the current Italian government were to need to leave Rome in a hurry.
Mr. Mario Draghi, prime minister of the Italian government, praised Ms. Gelmini statement and hinted that the new tunnel may be named in her honor when it will be completed. He added that superluminal speed may be a welcome feature for monetary transfers all over the world.
Mr. Roberto Speranza, Italian ministry of health, also praised the construction of the new tunnel, but declared that the superluminal neutrinos arriving in Italy will have to be quarantined for a certain period as they could be carriers of viral infections.
Mr. Roberto Speranza and Ms. Mariastella Gelmini at the press conference announcing the plans for the new neutrino tunnel.