Thread: May 2008 (LHC) Particle Accelerator - Miracle or Catastrophe?

Originally Posted by bluefinger

Well then, it is simply a statistical probability on what theory is correct. First of all, how stable are strangelets? Secondly, are they stable enough to cause a exponential cascade? And thirdly, can they be created at all? However, strangelets were proposed as a hypothesis, and have yet to be observed at all.

And mini-black holes, again, does the extent of the Hawking Radiation cause the black hole to either evaporate before it can be detected, or would it not be enough or non-existant in order to deplete the mini-black hole before it can accumulate to dangerous levels.

Those two problems all work on the assumption of the worst case scenario. To be honest, it would constitute a very, very small percentage, but if this percentage is significant enough, then yeah, there are ethical problems. But then again, when they tested the first nuke, there were concerns the energy of the explosion would ignite the atmosphere, but that never happened.

Exactly

Most likley, they will produce a number of very small things, at a huge cost with not much actual benefit to the world.

But then, if you've ever read discworld "Million to one chances happen nine times out of ten" so, we'll see what happens come May!

Originally Posted by PeteB

Exactly

Most likley, they will produce a number of very small things, at a huge cost with not much actual benefit to the world.

But then, if you've ever read discworld "Million to one chances happen nine times out of ten" so, we'll see what happens come May!

Discworld books are a riot, but as for what happens to LHC, I'll simply watch to see what happens.

The letter below was written by none other than Dr. Walter Wagner.

Wow! Really? The Doctor Wagner!?!

I don't think anybody on the planet had any idea that a Walter Wagner existed to be honest, with the possible exception of the people reading this thread; but it's a funny name.

Pointless Post Exhibit A:

Originally Posted by Xei

Wow! Really? The Doctor Wagner!?!

I don't think anybody on the planet had any idea that a Walter Wagner existed to be honest, with the possible exception of the people reading this thread; but it's a funny name.

Originally Posted by Xei

Wow! Really? The Doctor Wagner!?!

I don't think anybody on the planet had any idea that a Walter Wagner existed to be honest, with the possible exception of the people reading this thread; but it's a funny name.

Is it really worth making a post showing you being that cynically proud for nothing? It doesn't help people's outlook of you...

C'mon now, just leggo that ego...



I think the point Jeff was illustrating is there is debate amongst fairly knowledgeable people in the field to cause a reasonable enough question regarding the machine's activation.

Originally Posted by SolSkye

I think the point Jeff was illustrating is there is debate amongst fairly knowledgeable people in the field to cause a reasonable enough question regarding the machine's activation.

Thank you SolSkye, and you're right...that's exactly what I was doing. Just trying to keep both sides weighed evenly by providing more information. Personally speaking, I would love for them to throw the switch, just to see what will happen.

"What does this button do?"

The point is that if you say that something is written by 'none other than X' then you are giving the impression that X is especially authoritative.

Obviously.

Giving false impressions - which was what that was - is not fair. Who is Doctor Wanger..? Does he study physics?

And why is there a walking waffle?