The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is all set to start smashing atomic particles today
The media frenzy surrounding the Large Hadron Collider has hit fever pitch as today is the day when the first atomic particles are shot around the 27km track. Some scientists fear that the test could create tiny black holes that could put our planet’s existence in threat.
The world’s most famous theoretical physicist, Professor Stephen Hawking tut-tuts the notions of dangerous black holes being formed. Read Hawking’s take on today’s events (and the experiments to come) in Stephen Hawking’s £50 bet on the world, the universe and the God particle. Here’s an excerpt:
“If the LHC were to produce little black holes, I don’t think there’s any doubt I would get a Nobel prize, if they showed the properties I predict,” Professor Hawking told the Today programme. “However, I think the probability that the LHC has enough energy to create black holes is less than one per cent, so I’m not holding my breath.”
click here to read the rest of the article
September 10, 2008 at 5:34 am
CERN – the Nine Billion Dollar Question
September 10, 2008 at 8:29 am
“Some scientists fear that the test could create tiny black holes that could put our planet’s existence in threat.”
No one with any expertise in the field of particle physics has any such fear. A couple of professional fear-mongers, who pulled the same stunt with another accelerator nine years ago (guess we survived that end of the world!) have used the internet, court system, and media to create the false impression that there is controversy. There is not. There is no danger.
I’ve written about this on my blog (onscreen-scientist.com) in post called “Large Hadron Collider: What’s the Risk?”
September 15, 2008 at 7:21 am
[...] threat of tiny black holes slowly swallowing up Earth as the Large Hadron Collider was switched on last week led to many jokes [...]