CERN LHC (Large Hadron Collider) Goes Live 10th Sept 08

[mrgreen4242]

I read this article talking about how machines like the LHC could theoretically create quantum particles that ignore the normal direction of time and can somehow preclude their own inception through some sort of reverse causality and so there's a chance that the LHC may never actually power on (if it can indeed create such particles) but we won't be able to explain why, since the reverse causality creates a paradox, etc etc.

It wasn't a joke or a nutjob writing it, either. It was a couple of (supposedly) respected physicists. I'll see if I can find it. (Nope couldn't find it.. thought I might have blogged a link to it, but apparantly not).

The authors cited some examples of times this could have happened with other particle colliders in the past - closed down at the last minute due to unexpected funding cuts, etc.

 

[JNB]

And here I am on the road with nary a scrap of aluminum foil to wrap around my head.

Sigh...

 

[PlaceofDis]

i'm definitely looking forward to what we learn with the LHC. should be interesting times ahead

 

[Robertson1993]

Im not worried. Ill bet you guys anything that September 10th will come and go like a normal, boring day. Nothing will happen.....

.....Except some scientific research

 

[Apple]

In before the Earth gets Wastelanded!!!!!!!

 

[djellison]

I
I'm not saying that it will destroy the world, but there's definitely the chance. Thoughts?

There's a chance Elvis might crash a UFO into the Loch Ness Monster tomorrow as well.

 

[0098386]

One thing I've wondered is why is it built so far underground? Is it to limit the potential problems (lightning, terrorist attack etc)?

Getting sick of having to explain to friends why the world isn't about to go pop, damn papers.

 

[koobcamuk]

At least, if it all goes wrong then we dont have to worry about Global Warming anymore. Or anything else for that matter. Bring it on

 

[cristo]

One thing I've wondered is why is it built so far underground? Is it to limit the potential problems (lightning, terrorist attack etc)?

By having the LHC so far underground, the rock acts as a radiation shield. Not only does it stop natural radiation affecting the experiment, but it also prevents radiation produced at the LHC from entering the atmosphere.

 

[scotthayes]

was nice knowing you all. See you on the other side

we're doomed I tell you doomed

Although I under about 0.00000000000001% of particle physics I'm all excited about the turning on of the LHC tomorrow... Will be fascinating to see what they discover.


Still on the subject of black holes destroying the earth, we'd better pray to god that the Americans don't try to replicate the big bang

 

[Melrose]

It's actually a 1 in 50 billion chance so I wouldn't couldn't on the world actually ending. As for the black holes, scientists have said they evaporate in a nano second once they are formed.

Don't worry about it. Read the articles carefully.

Theoretically, however, in that nanosecond the black hole could potentially suck in the known universe - they are strong enough to even suck in light and time or something (they say).

I'm not saying the world will end, but if a black hole forms for any length of time, the enormity of the force present would be enough to spoil someone's day..

..if one is formed, I'll wait Google Blackhole to come out and then scan around at my leisure.

 

[Keebler]

i must admit that i'm not too excited about this venture. I realize the chances are minimal, but what bothers me is why they would spend the money to screw with it in the first place? Why even take the remote chance something catastrophic? Seems kind of dumb to me, despite the reasons of wanting to know the galaxy's origins.

It's like alot of things....folks are dying all over the world from hunger and we're building things that spin around... I may not be the brightest guy in the world, but something isn't right about that....

cheers,
keebler

 

[edesignuk]

Ready, set, go!

Cern collider ready for power-up​

 

[Gray-Wolf]

I'm just curious is it will blow up, destroying the place, not the planet, or it will be a dud.

 

[Cave Man]

Well, not tomorrow - I mean the particles won't reach collision speed for a couple of months. Besides, if it does open up a black hole that swallows the Earth, it'll happen so fast that we'll all be gone in about 10^-9 of a second. You won't even feel it.

I'm going to go get laid somewhere...

 

[Afini]

Micro-black holes aren't a threat if Hawking radiation exists, they will "evaporate" before they are ever able to begin growing.

Theoretically, however, in that nanosecond the black hole could potentially suck in the known universe - they are strong enough to even suck in light and time or something (they say).

I'm not saying the world will end, but if a black hole forms for any length of time, the enormity of the force present would be enough to spoil someone's day..

..if one is formed, I'll wait Google Blackhole to come out and then scan around at my leisure.

According to all the theories on Black Holes, any black hole has the potential to contain all the mass in the known universe, but none of them would just "suck up the whole universe in nanoseconds". There is a lot we don't know, but quiet a few astronomy theories involve black holes, and they haven't sucked up all of anything yet. The center of our galaxy allegedly has a super-massive black hole anchoring the entire galaxy in an orbit around it.

And yes they have a point where the escape velocity exceeds the speed of light and mass can no longer escape, and light is affected by gravity and also succumbs to the intense gravitational forces if they pass that point .

 

[plinden]

Considering that the earth daily collides with cosmic rays with a much higher energy that anything the LHC will ever be able to produce, I'd say we're pretty safe.

 

[Schtumple]

I'm just curious is it will blow up, destroying the place, not the planet, or it will be a dud.

If it does turn out to be a dud I think ALOT of people who invested alot of money into this thing are gunna want a refund...

 

[NC MacGuy]

Well, not tomorrow - I mean the particles won't reach collision speed for a couple of months. Besides, if it does open up a black hole that swallows the Earth, it'll happen so fast that we'll all be gone in about 10^-9 of a second. You won't even feel it.

I'm going to go get laid somewhere...

Damn! I've been using this as an excuse to sit around and drink beer for the past week.

Now I guess I'll have to go to work and take my daughter for that book she needs for school which I told her she wouldn't need.

 

[Afini]

Considering that the earth daily collides with cosmic rays with a much higher energy that anything the LHC will ever be able to produce, I'd say we're pretty safe.

Thats one of the reasons why building it wasn't really questioned, if it had any real chance of creating this "doomsday", it would have happened long time ago from collisions that occur every day from the natural exposure we receive.

 

[Much Ado]

It's poetic justice that Switzerland, a neutral country, will become the Ravagers Of The Universe.

 

[iJohnHenry]

Will be fascinating to see what they discover.

Everyone within 10 miles will loose their pocket change.

 

[Afini]

It's poetic justice that Switzerland, a neutral country, will become the Ravagers Of The Universe.

It would be, wouldn't it?


Just on a side note, when the first US nuke was tested, the observing scientists were taking bets on the effectiveness, going all the way from dud, to starting an atmospheric ignition that would end life as we know it on earth. Some scientists were betting on the latter. Could you imagine watching the bomb being tested while believing it was going to wipe out the human race.

 

[Melrose]

Micro-black holes aren't a threat if Hawking radiation exists, they will "evaporate" before they are ever able to begin growing.



According to all the theories on Black Holes, any black hole has the potential to contain all the mass in the known universe, but none of them would just "suck up the whole universe in nanoseconds". There is a lot we don't know, but quiet a few astronomy theories involve black holes, and they haven't sucked up all of anything yet. The center of our galaxy allegedly has a super-massive black hole anchoring the entire galaxy in an orbit around it.

And yes they have a point where the escape velocity exceeds the speed of light and mass can no longer escape, and light is affected by gravity and also succumbs to the intense gravitational forces if they pass that point .

My bad. Guess it really is Rocket Surgery, eh?

 

[JW8725]

This Hadron thing should have been built in USA just in case something does go wrong.