Bang

Deckard · #1 09-07-2008, 05:39 AM

An introduction to the Large Hadron Collider has been published on the BBC website. I'm sure pretty much everyone here knows what it is by now (the most powerful physics experiment ever built, aiming to re-create the conditions just after the Big Bang in an attempt to answer fundamental questions of science and the universe itself)

The scale of this experiment (including the data to be analysed afterwards) takes my breath away.

More guides here...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4670445.ece
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/in...30/cernproject

(I've just started reading The Fabric of the Cosmos in an attempt to up my scientific appreciation and understanding - I hated science at school!)

cacophony · #2 09-07-2008, 08:35 AM

i fear this device because deep down inside i'm pretty sure "the big mistake of '38" in the "hyperion" novels was a prediction of disaster.

Deckard · #3 09-07-2008, 10:10 AM

Haha, y'know I don't think we need to worry about those minuscule black holes.

(famous last words)

Sarcasmo · #4 09-07-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deckard

...attempt to answer fundamental questions of science and the universe itself...

Oooh, they're really going to be pissed when they find out the answer is 42.

I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I can't help myself!

Deckard · #5 09-08-2008, 04:23 AM

A real groaner!

And...

Quote:

Opponents say it cannot be definitively said that in a worst case scenario the collider will not produce micro black holes and dangerous "strangelets".

I mean, can you imagine anything more dangerous than that?

Strangelet · #6 09-08-2008, 08:03 AM

the horror!!!!

BeautifulBurnout · #7 09-10-2008, 06:00 AM

Well. We're still here!

I listened to the "event" while stuck in traffic on the M25 this morning and I have to admit to a frisson of excitement as it got off to a false start, then they succeeded in pushing the beam through the first part of the tunnel.

It is a shame that it will be months or years before we know what, if anything, the experiment has proved/revealed/confirmed.

I was amazed at myself for being so interested in physics when I was so crap at it at school, though.

dubman · #8 09-10-2008, 10:11 AM

i dont know why it was made such a big deal of now.

the event that people were actually worried about doesnt happen until oct 21. this was just making sure the damn thing could work.

sanakan · #9 09-10-2008, 11:28 AM

without the event today, there'd be no event on oct 21. thus it's a big deal.

dubman · #10 09-10-2008, 11:33 AM

no, what i mean was everybody doomsday-ing
of course it needs to work today to work next month
but the lolocalypse wasnt supposed to happen then, yet everyone was joking that "well guys, 20 minutes left, any last words haha"