World Might Blow Up or Something Today

Ontario Loyalist · September 10, 2008

This is just peachy; as with the A-Bombs, mad scientists are about to conduct an experiment the consequences of which they can only theorize about, and a few critics are claiming could cause the end of our planet.

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/09...e-collider.html

Riverwind · September 10, 2008

Here is a good site for the technically inclined that debunks the LHC alarmists: http://motls.blogspot.com/2008/02/lhc-alarmists.html

The layman's summary: there is a theory that says black holes could be produced by the experiment, however, another theory says that the black holes must rapidly evaporate in the unlikely event that they appeared. IOW - the alarmists cherry pick the theories that are scary and ignore the theories that show there is little risk. To make matters worse the theory behind the black hole evaporation is well established yet the theory that suggests they would form in first place is relatively new.

Edited September 10, 2008 by Riverwind

DogOnPorch · September 10, 2008

Here is a good site for the technically inclined that debunks the LHC alarmists: http://motls.blogspot.com/2008/02/lhc-alarmists.html
The layman's summary: there is a theory that says black holes could be produced by the experiment, however, another theory says that the black holes must rapidly evaporate in the unlikely event that they appeared. IOW - the alarmists cherry pick the theories that are scary and ignore the theories that show there is little risk. To make matters worse the theory behind the black hole evaporation is well established yet the theory that suggests they would form in first place is relatively new.

Aye...the Hawking radiation theory.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawking_radiation

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Uncertainty is the only certainty there is.

---Various authors

Ontario Loyalist · September 10, 2008

Here is a good site for the technically inclined that debunks the LHC alarmists: http://motls.blogspot.com/2008/02/lhc-alarmists.html
The layman's summary: there is a theory that says black holes could be produced by the experiment, however, another theory says that the black holes must rapidly evaporate in the unlikely event that they appeared. IOW - the alarmists cherry pick the theories that are scary and ignore the theories that show there is little risk. To make matters worse the theory behind the black hole evaporation is well established yet the theory that suggests they would form in first place is relatively new.

Personally, I don't care what happens; I just love how science likes to push the envelope based on theory. Sure, the A-Bomb didn't end up blowing up the planet as some suspected, but not really knowing what would happen just wouldn't deter them from testing it anyway and bringing us such joys as nuclear weapons and the threat of nuclear war. Who knows what joys this experiment will foist upon mankind if it doesn't end up being the end of us.

Riverwind · September 10, 2008

Who knows what joys this experiment will foist upon mankind if it doesn't end up being the end of us.

It could just as easily lead to new source of CO2 free power.

For those with a sense of humour:

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/p...ging-nerds.aspx

Topaz · September 10, 2008

Wednesday, Sept.10th, www.coasttocostam.com will talk about this on George's show.

guyser · September 10, 2008

Discovery's Daily Planet had the regular appearing UofT physicist .....he said, " the sun has been bombarded with these for a billion years and its still there. Dont worry a thing about it"

I will sleep well.

Oleg Bach · September 10, 2008

Discovery's Daily Planet had the regular appearing UofT physicist .....he said, " the sun has been bombarded with these for a billion years and its still there. Dont worry a thing about it"
I will sleep well.

Still what's the point? If we cause a hole to form that swallows the planet in the twinkle of an eye - then we deserve oblivion for such gross curiousity. It makes me wonder what the purpose the experiment is! If there is even a small percentage of a chance that we will unleash Satan himself in the form of black matter ---WHY TAKE THAT CHANCE? Just like the first atomic explosion. The handlers knew there was a chance that there would be a chain reaction that would literally turn the atmosphere in to an exposive world wide fire storm - but the mad men took a chance - that is pure evil and I suspect this modern version of toying with oblivion our of sheer sport and curiousity is pure evil also - besides billions have been spent so some egg heads can get a boner playing God -- I don't like the idea of taking a gamble - I never gamble nor should the scientific nerds...leave anti-matter and black holes alone - to mess with this is like stealing God's raw material..no good will come from a curious kid playing with a book of matches arouond a billion gallons of gas....they think they are so smart - how bout world peace and bringing about civilization to the world - that would be a more noble goal!

Black Dog · September 10, 2008

Here's a site you can check on to see if the LHC has destroyed the earth or not.

White Doors · September 10, 2008

Here's a site you can check on to see if the LHC has destroyed the earth or not.

LOL

guyser · September 10, 2008

Still what's the point?

..what, of your post?

There is a question that defies any rational answer.

Satan, evil, boner from god, black matter.....ei yi yi carumba.

Oh , It is spelled "Whirled Peas" by the way

DogOnPorch · September 10, 2008

Mmmmmmmmm...whirled peas. (drool)

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Always blame it on the guy who doesn't speak English.

---Homer Simpson

PoliticalCitizen · September 10, 2008

This is just peachy; as with the A-Bombs, mad scientists are about to conduct an experiment the consequences of which they can only theorize about, and a few critics are claiming could cause the end of our planet.

Ah yes, the Large Hardon Collider

Did you know that according to modern particle physics there are 16 basic particles?

6 quarks, 6 leptons and 4 bosons... all have been discovered (with 7 predicted before the discovery) except for the Higgs Boson - the particle of gravity (graviton).

They're hoping to find it using this new accelerator...

Oh, as to the black hole - if it happens it will be extremely small with its life expectancy in microseconds...

GostHacked · September 10, 2008

I have been paying attention to this thing for some time now. Little realizing this has been in the works for about 20 years and 9 billion later.

This thing is the most absolutely amazing piece of technology on the planet. I am eager to hear what they discover. If they can get ahold of that graviton and maybe find out how to use it .... new frontiers. Maybe find out how to fold space.

Oleg Bach

Still what's the point? If we cause a hole to form that swallows the planet in the twinkle of an eye - then we deserve oblivion for such gross curiousity. It makes me wonder what the purpose the experiment is! If there is even a small percentage of a chance that we will unleash Satan himself in the form of black matter ---WHY TAKE THAT CHANCE? Just like the first atomic explosion. The handlers knew there was a chance that there would be a chain reaction that would literally turn the atmosphere in to an exposive world wide fire storm - but the mad men took a chance - that is pure evil and I suspect this modern version of toying with oblivion our of sheer sport and curiousity is pure evil also - besides billions have been spent so some egg heads can get a boner playing God -- I don't like the idea of taking a gamble - I never gamble nor should the scientific nerds...leave anti-matter and black holes alone - to mess with this is like stealing God's raw material..no good will come from a curious kid playing with a book of matches arouond a billion gallons of gas....they think they are so smart - how bout world peace and bringing about civilization to the world - that would be a more noble goal!

The Atomic weapon is an abhorable thing. But wow is it ever fantastic. Einstien never meant for the atomic bomb to happen when he discovered Theory of Relativity. Usually anyone who wants to make a weapon out of anything is in the military or an outfit that works with the military. Leave it up to mad men to turn discovery into a weapon that kills.

Thousands of scientists around the planet have taken part in this project. The fact that this facility crosses the border twice of two countries indicates it is a really huge multinational effort and cooperation. More so than the ISS. Multinational effort on a single project does bring about unity and civility to the world.

More or less, science nerds do take a risk. But that risk is calculated out the wazoo. A few crappy equations do not churn out such a fantastic piece of equipment. Actually this is a whole slew of different pieces of equipment to make up this facility.

Even after playing so many computer games depicting end times or 'when science goes wrong', I still want them to fire this puppy up. Screw it, roll the dice, balls to the wall.

Dr. Gordon Freeman to the test chamber please.

http://www.shackpics.com/files/largehadron...6p8kuk65ug3.jpg

http://cache.boston.com/universal/site_gra..._08_01/lhc8.jpg

M.Dancer · September 10, 2008

A friend of mine in Ottawa has been following the story quite closely and he observed that shortly after the experiment began he noticed numerous wrom holes in his front lawn.

Ontario Loyalist · September 11, 2008

..what, of your post?
There is a question that defies any rational answer.

Satan, evil, boner from god, black matter.....ei yi yi carumba.

Oh , It is spelled "Whirled Peas" by the way

The fact of the matter is that these people were willing to take the risk not knowing for certain what the consequences were going to be. And the expiriments have just begun. Just because the majority of scientists thought that this thing would cause no problems doesn't justify taking the risk.

But now that we're still here, it's the turn of the conspiracy theorists to have a go at it; from what I saw on the news there was a bit of a delay there before the results of the test appeared. I'm sure there will be a few people who will claim that this contrived; they did spend about $9 billion on this thing, did they not? For it not to work would be extremely embarrassing to the scientific community.

AngusThermopyle · September 11, 2008

Just because the majority of scientists thought that this thing would cause no problems doesn't justify taking the risk.

If we followed that line of reasoning we'd all still be living in hide or dirt huts and using rendered animal fat to light them at night.

Smallc · September 11, 2008

and using rendered animal fat to light them at night.

Oh hell no, that's too dangerous.

Edited September 12, 2008 by Smallc

Ontario Loyalist · September 12, 2008

If we followed that line of reasoning we'd all still be living in hide or dirt huts and using rendered animal fat to light them at night.

Sheer nonsense. We're talking about a specific scientific experiment that could have (had) a profound detrimental impact on life of this planet.

Smallc · September 12, 2008

Sheer nonsense. We're talking about a specific scientific experiment that could have (had) a profound detrimental impact on life of this planet.

Yes, but they say the applications of what they learn here could be limitless.

PoliticalCitizen · September 12, 2008

Yes, but they say the applications of what they learn here could be limitless.

ANTI-GRAVITY, here I come !!!

bush_cheney2004 · September 12, 2008

Sheer nonsense. We're talking about a specific scientific experiment that could have (had) a profound detrimental impact on life of this planet.

Oh well...no balls...no blue chips. The dinosaurs took your advice and never built their superconducting supercollider (too risky and expensive), and look what happened to them.

White Doors · September 12, 2008

Haaaa HA!

Stupid Dinosuars.

Oleg Bach · September 12, 2008

Haaaa HA!
Stupid Dinosuars.

I resent that remark - I am a dinosaur! being a million years old is not an easy take - fossilized or other wise...so are black holes the sexiest bit of science or are they a trap much like a vampous woman?

AngusThermopyle · September 12, 2008

Sheer nonsense. We're talking about a specific scientific experiment that could have (had) a profound detrimental impact on life of this planet.

Yep, you're right, you response is sheer nonsense. Countless experiments have had the potential of profound detrimental impacts on life on this planet yet we've still performed them and as a result reaped the rewards of doing so.

I repeat, if what you said is to be taken seriously we'd still be putting leaches all over ourselves. You may deny being or may not be a luddite but you skirt very close to being one with that no progress attitude your comment indicates.

So, was all the alarmist bullcrap being spouted justified? In one word, NO.