09-09-2008, 06:52 AM | #1 (permalink) | |
Eponymous
Location: Central Central Florida
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Particle Accelerator: Could it be the end of the world?
There are some that believe this particle accelerator will cause black holes that will cause the Earth to self-destruct by next week. Yes, it's a small percentage, but they're physicists, too.
Personally, I'll trust in the larger consensus of physicists. I'm not sure why, but I'd love to understand what the risks are and what they could possibly fear. Any explanation would help satisfy curiosity of us laypersons. For those that understand the technicalities of this process, do you have any concerns at all? Or are the physicists that fear the end of the world simply falling back on a subliminal religious or cultural belief? Quote:
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09-09-2008, 07:02 AM | #2 (permalink) | ||||||
zomgomgomgomgomgomg
Location: Fauxenix, Azerona
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Here, read this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/mai.../scilhc105.xml In the words of Prof Brian Cox of Manchester University: "Anyone who thinks the LHC will destroy the world is a twat." Quote:
Last edited by telekinetic; 09-09-2008 at 07:12 AM.. |
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09-09-2008, 07:14 AM | #3 (permalink) |
Eponymous
Location: Central Central Florida
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I wasn't asking for an argument or trying to prove anything. I do apologize for posting an article that took another slant, though. I didn't even read through it, not realizing I'd have to defend a question.
There are multiple articles, and I saw a part of a piece on one of the morning shows today that interviewed a physicist who was trying to stop the accelerator. I just wondered why and what others thought. Period. Super-smasher targets massive mystery - LHC - MSNBC.com http://www.gonzoscience.com/GonzoUSA/?p=649
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We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess. Mark Twain Last edited by jewels; 09-09-2008 at 07:17 AM.. |
09-09-2008, 07:17 AM | #4 (permalink) |
Currently sour but formerly Dlishs
Super Moderator
Location: Australia/UAE
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its been nice knowing yaz guys...
if we come out on the other side...ill be looking for a koala bear somewhere
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An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy |
09-09-2008, 07:26 AM | #5 (permalink) | ||
zomgomgomgomgomgomg
Location: Fauxenix, Azerona
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Anyways, from the other two articles you linked: Quote:
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09-09-2008, 07:34 AM | #6 (permalink) |
Getting it.
Super Moderator
Location: Lion City
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I have a friend that runs experiments at CERN (and other particle accelerators around the world) and he says there is nothing to be worried about.
He could be wrong but I am somehow comforted by the fact that he is a personal connection to something that, if it goes wrong, is beyond my control.
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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke |
09-09-2008, 07:36 AM | #7 (permalink) |
Upright
Location: reykjavík, iceland
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was that a subtle reference to the fact koalas aren´t bears?
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mother nature made the aeroplane, and the submarine sandwich, with the steady hands and dead eye of a remarkable sculptor. she shed her mountain turning training wheels, for the convenience of the moving sidewalk, that delivers the magnetic monkey children through the mouth of impossible calendar clock, into the devil's manhole cauldron. physics of a bicycle, isn't it remarkable? |
09-09-2008, 07:42 AM | #8 (permalink) |
Eponymous
Location: Central Central Florida
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I'm thinking it's referencing the fact that koalas make great gifts.
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We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess. Mark Twain |
09-09-2008, 07:46 AM | #9 (permalink) | |
warrior bodhisattva
Super Moderator
Location: East-central Canada
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LHC Informational Video
Stephen Hawking: Large Hadron Collider vital for humanity - Telegraph Five fun facts about the LHC: Quote:
Let's peer into the structure of the universe, shall we?
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Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot |
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09-09-2008, 07:52 AM | #10 (permalink) |
Kick Ass Kunoichi
Location: Oregon
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I think the LHC is awesome, in the true sense of the word. I am looking forward--frankly, I'm fucking excited--to see what comes out of the big experiments. Am I scared of/worried about the possibilities? Not particularly, and I think to promote the kind of misinformation that is out there regarding the LHC is sheer fear-mongering.
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09-09-2008, 08:46 AM | #12 (permalink) |
Broken Arrow
Location: US
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I was reading articles about this years ago in popular science. Not that that is the definitive source for real scientific info, but from what I gathered back then, I am not worried.
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09-09-2008, 11:09 AM | #13 (permalink) |
Junkie
Location: The True North Strong and Free!
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I just applied for a credit line increase. Might as well have some fun since I don't have to pay it back!
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"It is impossible to obtain a conviction for sodomy from an English jury. Half of them don't believe that it can physically be done, and the other half are doing it." Winston Churchill |
09-09-2008, 03:07 PM | #14 (permalink) |
Baltimoron
Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD
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I can't believe I'm going to be the first person to make a "don't cross the streams" reference.
"Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light." "Total protonic reversal." "Right. That's bad. Okay. All right. Important safety tip. Thanks, Egon."
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09-09-2008, 04:34 PM | #16 (permalink) |
I'm a family man - I run a family business.
Location: Wilson, NC
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Have ya'll seen the Large Hadron Collidor rap? It's supah supah fly!
Seriously, it explains the entire LHC in a very entertaining way. Also, make sure to join LHC@HOME!!!!!!! Uses your PC's power to help compute the data the LHC produces when it goes live. http://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/
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Off the record, on the q.t., and very hush-hush. Last edited by Redjake; 09-09-2008 at 04:40 PM.. |
09-09-2008, 06:48 PM | #17 (permalink) |
Deliberately unfocused
Location: Amazon.com and CDBaby
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The detonation of the first nuclear warhead was supposed to set off an unstoppable chain reaction, burning off the atmosphere and destroying all life on earth. If true, it's an awfully slow chain reaction.
Breaking the sound barrier was supposed to be catastrophic. The use of microwaves for communication should have boiled our bodily fluids. Colliding particles at near light speed will surely destroy us all! The sky is falling!
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"Regret can be a harder pill to swallow than failure .With failure you at least know you gave it a chance..." David Howard |
09-09-2008, 07:51 PM | #20 (permalink) | |
Location: Waterloo, Ontario
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As to the original article, I'm shocked to say that, in principle, this fear is justified, even if it's not justified for this particular accelerator. The idea is that accelerating a particle to a sufficiently high speed will increase the density of said particle past the schwarzschild limit and turn it into a black hole. You can imagine how disastrous this can be... Luckily enough, not only is it exceedingly difficult to accelerate particles to such speeds but even if we managed to do it somehow, Stephen Hawking's theory on hawking radiation would have to also be wrong in order for the created black hole to pose any danger to us... Still, Stephen could be wrong so if we ever did create a black hole... |
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09-09-2008, 10:02 PM | #21 (permalink) |
President Rick
Location: location location
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Just because someone has a minority or unpopular opinion, it doesn't necessarily make them a "crackpot". Almost every scientific principle that we now believe to be 100% true was at one time "just some crackpot theory".
Unfortunately, if this goes south, there won't be anyone around to say "I told you so".
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09-09-2008, 10:06 PM | #22 (permalink) | |
Location: Canada
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Dr. Egon Spengler: I have a radical idea. The door swings both ways, we could reverse the particle flow through the gate. Dr. Peter Venkman: How? Dr. Egon Spengler: [hesitates] We'll cross the streams. Dr. Peter Venkman: 'Scuse me Egon? You said crossing the streams was bad! Dr Ray Stantz: Cross the streams... Dr. Peter Venkman: You're gonna endanger us, you're gonna endanger our client - the nice lady, who paid us in advance, before she became a dog... Dr. Egon Spengler: Not necessarily. There's definitely a *very slim* chance we'll survive. [pause while they consider this] Dr. Peter Venkman: [slaps Ray] I love this plan! I'm excited to be a part of it! LET'S DO IT!
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09-10-2008, 03:54 AM | #23 (permalink) |
warrior bodhisattva
Super Moderator
Location: East-central Canada
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We live!
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Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot |
09-10-2008, 05:31 AM | #26 (permalink) |
Knight of the Old Republic
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
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Has the Large Hadron Collider destroyed the earth yet?
An excellent resource for status updates on the HLC. |
09-10-2008, 05:34 AM | #27 (permalink) |
President Rick
Location: location location
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I told you so. :P
Also, I initially misread the name of the unit as the "Large Hardon Collider". Ouch!
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This post is content. If you don't like it then you are not content. Or perhaps just incontinent. This is not a link - Do not click here I hate animated avatars. |
09-10-2008, 05:39 AM | #28 (permalink) |
warrior bodhisattva
Super Moderator
Location: East-central Canada
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What? Nothing on the flux capacitor?
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Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot |
09-10-2008, 05:52 AM | #30 (permalink) | |
Master Thief. Master Criminal. Masturbator.
Location: Windiwana
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First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for me And there was no one left to speak out for me. -Pastor Martin Niemoller |
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09-10-2008, 08:17 AM | #32 (permalink) |
Currently sour but formerly Dlishs
Super Moderator
Location: Australia/UAE
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so do i owe you a koala bear jewels??
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An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy |
09-10-2008, 08:33 AM | #33 (permalink) |
Eponymous
Location: Central Central Florida
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Ummm yes, dlish. Three, please, due to the plight.
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We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess. Mark Twain |
09-10-2008, 08:39 AM | #34 (permalink) | |
Wehret Den Anfängen!
Location: Ontario, Canada
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And also: http://www.hasthelhcdestroyedtheearth.com/rss.xml RSS feed!
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Last edited by JHVH : 10-29-4004 BC at 09:00 PM. Reason: Time for a rest. |
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09-10-2008, 08:46 AM | #35 (permalink) |
Winter is Coming
Location: The North
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Apparently not, but if it does later end up opening up a trandimensional rift in the very fabric of time and space, rest assured we're in the very best of hands.
Our savior! His boss |
09-10-2008, 08:54 AM | #36 (permalink) | |
Knight of the Old Republic
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
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09-10-2008, 09:28 AM | #37 (permalink) |
Delicious
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This is kinda funny to me.. It's like Scientists have built a machine, they don't know exactly what it's going to do but they're going to turn it on anyways. It's like a Stargate episode! I just hope Dr. McKay can fix it in time.
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09-10-2008, 11:22 AM | #38 (permalink) |
Winter is Coming
Location: The North
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Well, I mean, that's kind of the nature of experimentation, isn't it? We had no idea what would happen when we first discovered nuclear power or an internal combustion engine or fire, but we haven't destroyed the world with them (yet).
And furthermore, the only thing unique about this one is its size. There are many smaller ones around the wold which have been in use for years to no ill effect. If you want to have a crazy doomsday thing to worry about, worry about the Mayan long count calendar ending, because the LHC is not gonna give you much. |
09-10-2008, 12:20 PM | #40 (permalink) | |
Delicious
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“It is better to be rich and healthy than poor and sick” - Dave Barry |
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Tags |
accelerator, end, particle, world |
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