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Communication over interstellar distances using signals that travel at light speed (or near it), constrained by relativity. Because no information can travel faster than light, relativistic communication has inherent lag: a message from Alpha Centauri takes four years to reach Earth. This creates a “dialog” that spans years, making real‑time conversation impossible. Some speculative proposals use quantum entanglement, but entanglement cannot transmit information faster than light. Thus, relativistic communication forces interstellar cultures to become asynchronous, using message buoys and automated relays. It profoundly shapes worldbuilding in hard sci‑fi.
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