The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator to date, may be considered as one of mankind's greatest achievements when it becomes fully operational in the next few months [to be activated on 6 August]. Many also fear that it may very well be mankind's doom. Start her up and *whoosh*, black hole swallows us all up.
Black holes are just one of the many fears that were put forward with the construction of the LHC. The huge machine (17 miles in circumference) was made to bang particles together. Ok, not just bang. SMASH. Like Hulk smash, only with the power of as much as 14 trillion electron volts. These collisions are meant to produce mini-versions of the Big Bang.
Such power, of course, may have its consequences. It may reveal scientific insight as we have never imagined - or it may produce a black hole or something just as dangerous. A new safety review says otherwise though. The review was made by a council comprised of five physicists endorsed by CERN, the group behind the LHC. According to the council, there's nothing to worry about. None at all.
Well, the report says that the LHC may produce microscopic black holes, according to some theories. However, if black holes do pop up in line with these theories, these would be harmless, and would immediately disintegrate. The report goes on, in 96 pages, how other strange phenomena the LHC might produce won't be harmful to Earth's health.
We'll take your word for it, CERN. You did give us the World Wide Web after all.
http://science.qj.net/Will-Earth-s-largest-particle-accelerator-create-a-black-hole-/pg/49/aid/121419
3 comments:
Not so fast. The safety argument relies on Hawking Radiation or slow micro black hole growth for safety.
CERN is not sure which, and both are credibly theoretically disputed. There is very conceivable danger and a very determined public relations campaign to argue otherwise.
Do you know what you get when you mix high energy colliders with Professor Otto Rossler's charged micro black hole theory?
Answer: A golf ball
IMPORTANT: For a current in-depth view of CERN LHC, then below is a direct link to my debate statement! Please read, and when your ready Vote the Poll! This will reflect current public awareness, for now, and many generations to come!!! Thank You!
http://www.volconvo.com/forums/science-technology/22661-cern-lhc-alice-atlas.html
um, scary...
Post a Comment