Cool or Scary?

[Reddy]

On CNN.com

 

MEYRIN, Switzerland (AP) -- The most powerful atom-smasher ever built could make some bizarre discoveries, such as invisible matter or extra dimensions in space, after it is switched on in August.

 

This collider, called the largest scientific experiment in history, is expected to begin test runs in August.

 

But some critics fear the Large Hadron Collider could exceed physicists' wildest conjectures: Will it spawn a black hole that could swallow Earth?

 

Or spit out particles that could turn the planet into a hot dead clump?

 

Ridiculous, say scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, known by its French initials CERN -- some of whom have been working for a generation on the $5.8 billion collider, or LHC.

[Balta1701]

It won't destroy the earth.

[BigSqwert]

I've been anticipating this for awhile. Hoping they can finally validate m-theory.

[Reddy]

It won't destroy the earth.

i know that. just makes it sound scarier.

 

[lostfan]

It won't destroy the earth.

Don't be such a debbie downer. Get me all excited for nothing.

[kapkomet]

It won't destroy the earth.

 

Can you tell me more (without posting a huge link that I don't have time to read - I need the cliff notes version... )

 

[YASNY]

Can you tell me more (without posting a huge link that I don't have time to read - I need the cliff notes version... )

 

If it does destroy the Earth, who'll complain?

[Balta1701]

Can you tell me more (without posting a huge link that I don't have time to read - I need the cliff notes version... )

Ok, bullet points:

 

1. Collisions of the sort that will happen in the LHC happen all the time in the universe, in the solar system, and even on earth (involving solar and cosmic rays hitting each other or hitting celestial bodies). Therefore, there is no reason to be afraid of them.

 

2. In the event of something unexpected happening, like the generation of a black hole, the Earth would not be destroyed, because a black hole or other wierd particle like a magnetic monopole would die out very quickly because of its small size (a small black hole would lose the energy within it very, very rapidly, although it'd be really cool to do, and it wouldn't destroy the planet. A tiny black hole is not a dangerous gravitational well like the larger ones...in fact, it's basically just a rapid system for converting matter to energy because that's all it would do)

[kapkomet]

Ok, bullet points:

 

1. Collisions of the sort that will happen in the LHC happen all the time in the universe, in the solar system, and even on earth (involving solar and cosmic rays hitting each other or hitting celestial bodies). Therefore, there is no reason to be afraid of them.

 

2. In the event of something unexpected happening, like the generation of a black hole, the Earth would not be destroyed, because a black hole or other wierd particle like a magnetic monopole would die out very quickly because of its small size (a small black hole would lose the energy within it very, very rapidly, although it'd be really cool to do, and it wouldn't destroy the planet. A tiny black hole is not a dangerous gravitational well like the larger ones...in fact, it's basically just a rapid system for converting matter to energy because that's all it would do)

Thanks!

 

It's amazing the stuff they're trying to do now.

 

[The Critic]

If it does blow up the Earth, I hope we have those fat-ass cruise spaceships I saw in the movie Wall-E ready to go.

If I can drop just a few pounds, I could fit into one of those space recliners.

[HuskyCaucasian]

well, for what it is worth, if a black hole is created and destroys the earth, it'll happen before we ever realize it. See ya on the other side!

[Reddy]

just thinking about CREATING black holes is so awesome.

 

humans rock.

[StrangeSox]

They've already created black holes on smaller-scale experiments. We'll be fine.

 

I know someone who's been doing some work over at CERN. 95% of what he talks about is way over my head (he's close to a PhD in Physics).

[mreye]

It won't destroy the earth.

 

Republicans and Conservatives will.

[southsider2k5]

Ok, bullet points:

 

1. Collisions of the sort that will happen in the LHC happen all the time in the universe, in the solar system, and even on earth (involving solar and cosmic rays hitting each other or hitting celestial bodies). Therefore, there is no reason to be afraid of them.

 

2. In the event of something unexpected happening, like the generation of a black hole, the Earth would not be destroyed, because a black hole or other wierd particle like a magnetic monopole would die out very quickly because of its small size (a small black hole would lose the energy within it very, very rapidly, although it'd be really cool to do, and it wouldn't destroy the planet. A tiny black hole is not a dangerous gravitational well like the larger ones...in fact, it's basically just a rapid system for converting matter to energy because that's all it would do)

 

Or that's what the neo-cons want you to believe

[Reddy]

Ok, bullet points:

 

1. Collisions of the sort that will happen in the LHC happen all the time in the universe, in the solar system, and even on earth (involving solar and cosmic rays hitting each other or hitting celestial bodies). Therefore, there is no reason to be afraid of them.

 

2. In the event of something unexpected happening, like the generation of a black hole, the Earth would not be destroyed, because a black hole or other wierd particle like a magnetic monopole would die out very quickly because of its small size (a small black hole would lose the energy within it very, very rapidly, although it'd be really cool to do, and it wouldn't destroy the planet. A tiny black hole is not a dangerous gravitational well like the larger ones...in fact, it's basically just a rapid system for converting matter to energy because that's all it would do)

 

BUT

 

all of this is THEORETICAL.

 

so THEORETICALLY it could blow up the earth. Some scientists have said there IS that possibility but it's like a 1 in 50 million chance. bout the same as winning the lottery. only problem... people DO win the lottery. haha.