http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/09/10/lhc.collider/index.html

Anybody else find this exciting? History channel had a pretty good documentary that was on last night. The idea of extra dimensions and "God particles" is pretty cool.

But the idea of the Earth possibly being gobbled up into a black hole doesn't really float my boat lol. But the idea of so many different dimensions and stuff like that is pretty cool

I could think of alot of things to fix for 9 billion.  I guess if it creates a big black hole non of these things will need fixed.

Well it was turned on this morning and.....no black hole.

I believe its a bit more than that. The group that spent the last 25 years constructing this machine also created the internet and released it to the public. I'm sure people called that a waste of money too.

I say it's going to open up a quasar, which will destroy the earth in exactly 4 years. :-/

I say it's going to open up a quasar, which will destroy the earth in exactly 4 years. :-/

You believe that 2012 stuff?

You beat me to it. How ironic that the 4 year timetable coincides with the end of the Mayan calender in 2012.  Just food for thought.

Its 4 years and 102 days to the end-----December 21, 2012

I say it's going to open up a quasar, which will destroy the earth in exactly 4 years. :-/

You believe that 2012 stuff?

Who doesn't?  You might as well go out with a bang.

We're partying all day on 12/21/12.  Can you say "snow rave"? ;D

I think this machine is fantastic.

What upsets me is that it could be right here in the good ole USofA but nope, we wouldn't fund it so the center of the physics universe has moved from America to Europe.

Sad that we can come up with 30 billion to bail out a gambling er... brokerage house. but wouldn't fund the most exciting scientific device of the new millennium.

I think this machine is fantastic.

What upsets me is that it could be right here in the good ole USofA but nope, we wouldn't fund it so the center of the physics universe has moved from America to Europe.

Sad that we can come up with 30 billion to bail out a gambling er... brokerage house. but wouldn't fund the most exciting scientific device of the new millennium.

So very VERY true.  

We could have done this.

my chemistry teacher said that we have been colliding protons in accelerators for years... :-?

my chemistry teacher said that we have been colliding protons in accelerators for years... :-?

I believe there was a similar machine made in the 60's on a MUCH smaller scale.

no not dec.21 what about christmass and my b-day lol ;D

I know most of the physics teachers at my college were European and most were Russian. Always fun when you had to try and understand them.

Maybe not colliders but that are a few accelerators located here in the US. I'm pretty sure they told us our school had a really small scale one too.

Under France and Switzerland, hummmmmm.  It's real easy to spend 9 billion on research for the sake of research when you don't even spend enough on your military to defend yourself, much less defend the world.

They mention all of that in Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. I wouls highly recommend that book.

Under France and Switzerland, hummmmmm. It's real easy to spend 9 billion on research for the sake of research when you don't even spend enough on your military to defend yourself, much less defend the world.

There needs to be at least some smart people left in the world after the rest of it gets blown to pieces.  I'd say the Swiss are pretty smart as far as the whole "staying out of wars" thing goes.

When they tested the first atom bomb some of the scientists were seriously worried. They really didn't know what if any kind of chain reaction they could start ! Man, I bet there were some tight a**es when the mushroom cloud went up !!!

                                      As Ever,

                                       skillet

my chemistry teacher said that we have been colliding protons in accelerators for years... :-?

I believe there was a similar machine made in the 60's on a MUCH smaller scale.

The science is in the scale.  The particles can accelerate at much faster speeds thereby creating more dynamic collisions, with new sub particles being revealed.  This is an example of pure research.  You never know what will be revealed.  That's what makes it so exciting.  

It is hard for scientists to get funding for "basic" or "pure" research because it is not conducted with any particular outcome in mind.  Yet, this is where breakthrough discoveries often come from.  The Laser is a good example.  The transistor is another.  Bell labs has won 6 noble prizes for results obtained through this quest for knowledge.  

One of the foundations of America's greatness is in the areas of discovery and invention.   I hate to see this spirit weakened because some bean counter can't identify the "return on investment".