Well, we're getting closer to the beginning of the big experiments at the LHC in Switzerland. They've apparently started testing beams this month. Then in September they'll start circulating beams throughout the whole LHC. But the high energy tests won't be started until sometime in late October.
In the meantime here's an amusing rap about the LHC. It's about a month old, but I haven't seen it on the Catholic blogosphere yet. It may seem cheesy, but it's actually pretty well done.
My only complaint is that their brief explaination of the Higgs Boson makes the Higgs field seem like a modern tweaked version of the aether field.
I think what would make me laugh the most with the LHC is if they find out quarks are made up of other particles. Not likely, but you never know ...
RS
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The smaller these physicists keep blasting particles, the more convinced I am that Aristotle was not too far off the mark with his theories about prime matter.
Professor Dr. Otto E. Rossler'w plea and warning:
"A nightmarish situation, that can still be hoped to be averted in time through communication within the scientific community, is drawn attention to. Only a few weeks remain to find out whether the danger is real or nothing but a mirage. After this time window is closed, it will take years until we know whether or not we are doomed. The story line has all the features of a best-selling novel. The reader is asked to contribute constructively."
The quote is from Dr. Otto E. Rossler, Professor Theoretical Biochemist, visiting Professor of Theoretical Physics, inventor of the Rossler Attractor, founder of Endophysics, winner of the 2003 Chaos Award of the University of Liege and the 2003 Rene Descartes Award. Copies and links available at LHCFacts.org
"the end of both history and future" seems a bit far fetched. Destruction by black hole I can see, but that quote seems odd.
I also fail to see how Enewetak was a "russian roulette." I'd say there was more controversy over the first controlled nuclear reactor at the University of Chicago, than either "Trinity" or "Enewetak."
Also the fact that the site resorts to public opinion polls has it lose quite a bit of scientific credibility in my eyes.
Now the ethical questions do merit consideration. How small of a miniscule risk is small enough to do something that could result in the destruction of the world? Should we do something just because we can?
What probability is small enough to risk destruction of the world?
Good question. Dr. Rossler estimates the probability at 10% to 16% for creation of micro black holes (a gut estimate I assume) and destruction in 50 months to 50 years if created based on his calculations.
The lawsuit lead by nuclear physicist and lawyer Walter L. Wagner before US Federal Court in Hawaii estimates the odds at closer to 50% due to the high degree of uncertainty.
CERN estimates no risk. I studied the arguments on both sides in detail. I don't find CERN's arguments or estimations completely credible. CERN managers appear to have made the decision to "go for it". Fasten your seat belts!
LHCFacts.org
I'm sure that there won't be any problems that
an adroit whack from a crowbar can't fix.
Ronny, that's awesome! Good to know the potential "resonance cascade" will be on the other side of the world if it happens. A crowbar is easy enough to get. Now I just need to find a gravity gun and I'll be ready for October!
Oh, wait! I'll be in Rome in October! Cool, I'll be the first blog to let you know if the world is getting sucked into a black hole, or if headcrabs are spawning in the Vatican! Yes, folks, you heard it here first!
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