Large Hadron Collider

[DaHanG]

In the world of physics something very exciting is going to take place in the next few months. We may be able to learn more about the fundamental workings of our universe with the Large Hadron Collider.

According to its wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider,

"When activated, it is theorized that the collider will produce the elusive Higgs boson, the observation of which could confirm the predictions and "missing links" in the Standard Model of physics and could explain how other elementary particles acquire properties such as mass.[3][1] The verification of the existence of the Higgs boson would be a significant step in the search for a Grand Unified Theory, which seeks to unify three of the four known fundamental forces: electromagnetism, the strong nuclear force and the weak nuclear force, leaving out only gravity. The Higgs boson may also help to explain why gravitation is so weak compared to the other three forces. In addition to the Higgs boson, other theorized novel particles that might be produced, and for which searches[4] are planned, include strangelets, micro black holes, magnetic monopoles and supersymmetric particles.[5]"

We can only hope...

[|iR|Focalor]

As an American, I am inclined to pose the question:
Can we use it to make bigger bombs? 

[peewee_RotA]

As an American, I am inclined to pose the question:
Can we use it to make bigger bombs? 

Damnit, why didn't I think of that? American ingenuity at it's finest.

[DWxchzrles]

Great Pictures

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/08/the_large_hadron_collider.html

[[BTF]Sigma]

I'm reading Angels and Demons, the prequel to The Davinci Code.

In it they describe the CERN complex and what goes on there. Very interesting concepts. One, not sure of the validity, is to be able to create antimatter. Basically recreate the Big Bang. There was an article I read before about it but that was about a year ago and I can't seem to find the reference.

If we can create antimatter then we will find a 'limitless' source of energy. Yipee!!!

[quadz]

If we can create antimatter then we will find a 'limitless' source of energy.

We can already create antimatter... it doesn't last very long...

What's the reasoning behind the "limitless source of energy" notion?


Regards,

[QwazyWabbit]

Antimatter is created and destroyed routinely in particle accelerators. High energy particle collisions yield a host of secondary particle anti-particle pairs that fly off in various directions and spiral around in the detectors depending on their mass and charge. Most of them last only micro or nanoseconds before they collide with another particle in the detector and are absorbed or annihilated. Mutual annihilation of matter/antimatter usually emits photons or other particles that are absorbed in tertiary reactions in the detector.

Unfortunately, it takes far more energy to create and contain antimatter than it yields in return.

The some of the materials exposed to high energy reactions in particle accelerators also become radioactive and eventually contribute to the volume of radioactive waste that must be contained and disposed of.

The best place for Safe Nuclear Power remains 94 million miles away in a nice gravitationally-confined sphere available for free.

[X'tyfe]

isnt this thing supposed to destroy the world?
kinda selfish of these people to gamble with the planet like this

[quadz]

isnt this thing supposed to destroy the world?
kinda selfish of these people to gamble with the planet like this

xtyfe, I tried to talk them out of destroying the world, by showing them all of your posts here on the forums.  For some reason, this caused them to redouble their efforts to bring the collider online as soon as possible.

[haunted]

 ^

It'll be interesting to read about how the first collisions go in a few months.

[X'tyfe]

but wouldnt that also kill them too?

[[BTF]Defiant!]

isnt this thing supposed to destroy the world?
kinda selfish of these people to gamble with the planet like this

xtyfe, I tried to talk them out of destroying the world, by showing them all of your posts here on the forums.  For some reason, this caused them to redouble their efforts to bring the collider online as soon as possible.

Now that is funny.

[DWxchzrles]

isnt this thing supposed to destroy the world?
kinda selfish of these people to gamble with the planet like this

Reminds me Y2K

MY GOD, ITS THE END OF THE WORLD..........stay tuned for updates

[UUD-40]

Read this about Cern a few weeks ago: 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7512586.stm

[[BTF]Sigma]

quadz,

I'm thinking if they can stabilize and contain antimatter we should be able to anylize it and possibly amass enough to create a substantial anihilation reaction. Problem one is how to contain it without touching it?

Second is the issue of amassing enough of the containable antimatter to keep the ratio of energy used in the harvesting process to a fraction of the potential energy it could produce. Without seeing a profit in the process the benefits would simply be scientifical. (no problem with that )

When I say limitless energy, it really is me just sensationalizing the concept. I'd like to see it become a reality in our lifetime.