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Large Hadron Collider (LHC); Doomsday Device? Orly.
Topic Started: Sep 10 2008, 07:20 PM (1,563 Views)
Jackxcite
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Also been referred to as the 'Doomsday Device' among many other names, is scientist's latest huge experiment, costing nearly £5 billion ($8.83 billion USD). The LHC is used to smash protons together at almost the speed of light, around a 17Mile (27Kilometre) Long underground, circular tunnel. Located 300 feet underground at Geneva, on the French-Swiss border.

The result that is hoped for, is that this will recreate, for a fraction of a second, what the universe was like just after the birth of the universe.

It has been openly criticised repeatedly, and appeals were made the shut the project down, under the human rights act etc etc.

Why?

Some fear that smashing protons together at such a speed, the slightest miscalculation could plunge the world to it's doom. And probably a lot of the galaxy with it. I mean, recreating the big bang could potentially create black holes as well, that within 4 years could suck the earth inside-out.

It has also been admitted that black holes will be made. But however, they will not be of any danger.

Here's some early news of it, back in July: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/256429

Now it's obviously a couple of months on, and news about this has spread speedily in the past 2 week. The stories at that time include things like this: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/256429

After this, 5 days before the experiment was due to start, scientists were getting Death Threats over this.. Just because they fear the end of the world. Which really isn't that plausible.

Now, today is the 10th of September, also the day this machine was switched on. Anything gone wrong? It seems not. And nothing did. Mainly because no particles were smashed together. Scientists decided not to tell us that part.

Today all that happened was the beam of Protons were sent around the 17-Mile ring. Clockwise. As explained in this article: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/259646

The plan is to next send beams in a counter-clockwise direction.

Once they are happy everything is fine, they'll fire two beams directly at each other and smash them together at almost light speed.

If the experiment is a success, they will discover what makes up 96% of the universe, wich hasn't yet been proven. (23% Dark Matter, 73% Dark Energy)

Here is a final article also explaining today's events.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/10/lhc_day_is_not_today/

Update 12th September: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/259758

Update 18th September: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/259973

Update 19th September: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/260030

Update 20th September: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/260066

Update 24th September: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/260241

Update 6th October: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/260820


So, how much did people know about this? I'm surprised there isn't already a thread on it...

Edited by Jackxcite, Oct 12 2008, 10:09 PM.
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Tigerblitz
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Me no want to be sucked into a black hole!!!
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Miyagi30
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I just learned about it today, and to tell you the truth, im a little scared :/

ill post more later
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Eddie
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If they figure out how to destroy atoms, it may not be a good thing. New weapons could come that literally destroy a person without a sound.
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Jackxcite
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Miy, technically you shouldn't be scared. Protons, Sub-Atomic Particles and all that stuff crash into each other, and into the earth a speeds MUCH higher in nature than what these will be bashed together at. And that hasn't caused any black holes putting us into doom. o_O
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Bunni Killer
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I think I tried to sneak this discussion into another one of the debate threads, without much success. :P Exciting as the project is, there isn't a whole lot to talk about, until the results come in.
Edited by Bunni Killer, Sep 10 2008, 08:21 PM.
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Jackxcite
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Other than the whole 'It's gonna kill us' Discussion. ;)
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Ssbm Rocks1
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was just about to make a thread about this! anyways heres something funny i found:
http://quegrande.org/countdown/
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Mr Master52
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I think this really isn't needed. The humans have created enough technology and if any1 of you has read "angels and devils" (or what ever that awesome book of dan drown is called in English) you'd know that it can only turn to worse. I'm not really afraid, but what does it help you when you know of what the universe is made? Cheers, you solved 0.0005% of the universe mysteries and created the anti-matter...
But in general (to not turn this into a debate), I don't think we need this.
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Hunter
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For years eh, 2012? Mayan calendar much?

Pfft, let em' smash atoms, I don't care much.
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Mr Master52
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Hunter what if they create a massive destruction weapon (veery much unlikely though)?

Ahh, look, I found it <3

Quote:
 
One of the most visible examples is Angels & Demons by Dan Brown, which involves dangerous antimatter created at the LHC used as a weapon against the Vatican.
Quote from Wikipedia
Edited by Mr Master52, Sep 10 2008, 08:36 PM.
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Jackxcite
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Yeah apparently it'd take 4 years. Which is funny.

[Some important scientist name here] predicted the world to end in October 2012.


And Master, they don't KNOW it exists, they believe it does, or that's what they've called it. It hasn't technically been proven. But this will basically unravel one of the biggest questions in science. Ever.

Which goes on to say.. If they're proving the big bang etc, what happens to religion? Does creationism not just get blown out the window if this is proved? O_o
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Mr Master52
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No, the creatonism will get 10% more votes, as there is no scientifical explanation for the Big Bang "happening" at a random time (lol wtf quit the religious discussions :P we're always going the same way).
Also, scientists believe as much in antimatter as in the Big Bang, that created anti-matter and matter- they explode when they touch each other and that's why we have so much vacuum in the universe ;)
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Saj_61
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Mr Master52
Sep 10 2008, 08:26 PM
I think this really isn't needed. The humans have created enough technology and if any1 of you has read "angels and devils" (or what ever that awesome book of dan drown is called in English) you'd know that it can only turn to worse. I'm not really afraid, but what does it help you when you know of what the universe is made? Cheers, you solved 0.0005% of the universe mysteries and created the anti-matter...
But in general (to not turn this into a debate), I don't think we need this.
On GMTV this morning some guy said while we might not see things straight away, it could help find a cure cancer. Which we may never know unless it is tested etc. Im sure if it does you wouldnt be saying it was a pointless experiment. Also it could help find out how the universe was created, wouldnt you like to know how it was created?

Anyway tis better to go out with a bang.
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Mr Master52
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Saj where did this kind of technology help us? Oh right, the atoms, I see...Hint: Hiroshima, Nagasaki...err.. <.<
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Saj_61
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Mr Master52
Sep 10 2008, 08:41 PM
Saj where did this kind of technology help us? Oh right, the atoms, I see...Hint: Hiroshima, Nagasaki...err.. <.<
So you dont care that this could help cure cancer?
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Jackxcite
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It's possible that it could cure cancer. A new substance is OBVIOUSLY going to be tested for whatever qualities it may possess.

Also: Moved.
Edited by Jackxcite, Sep 10 2008, 08:48 PM.
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Jack Sam1
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I was just thinking about making a topic about this myself. :D

Anyway, there actually isn't any realistic cause for concern. Apparently, there are lots of collisions with MORE energy than this device is creating every day due to cosmic rays entering the atmosphere. (Is this correct?) So, if that doesn't 'create' black holes, why would this? And, even if it does, they are no real danger to humanity as you know it. :P

But, I keep hearing people saying 'what's the point of this? what good could it do?' Well, we don't know yet- but isn't the discovery of new knowledge motivation enough? We humans are a very curious type of breed, always have been, always will be. Without our curiosity, where would mankind be today? No-where.
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Llamakill
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Mr Master52
Sep 10 2008, 08:41 PM
Saj where did this kind of technology help us? Oh right, the atoms, I see...Hint: Hiroshima, Nagasaki...err.. <.<
That comment shows quite a lot of gullability and dare i say it, Ignorance about what this actually is.

If your going entirely on 'Angels & Demons' (A book I also have read), then you missed the point that the book was mainly fiction, not fact.

Anyway, even if black holes are created, it is almost impossible for them to last more than a few microseconds, as they will decay due to thier infinitely small size.

And Mr Master, You think CERN will be auctioning any of the products off to terrorist groups? Or that the terrorist's might just decide to make thier own LHC? I can't see it happening somehow.
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Yugiah
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Higgs Boson here we come! w00t.

Lol, I was wondering why a friend told me the end of the world was comming XD

EDIT: Not just black holes, people think that stranglets could be created or even worse, the fabric of space-time could rip taking the wole world with it O_o
Edited by Yugiah, Sep 10 2008, 10:14 PM.
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