Aimee Weber

So in about five months they will be turning on the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, Switzerland. This massive particle accelerator and collider may help provide much needed data in the search for the Grand Unified Theory including possibly revealing the existence of the Higgs Boson, a theoretic particle predicted by the Standard Model of particle physics.

The only problem is that there is a teeny weeny, itsy bitsy, tiny little chance that it will destroy the Earth. I don't mean long term destruction like with global warming, but more like *POOF* before you have time to type the F in WTF.

The general idea is that this collider will create tiny black holes which SHOULD instantly dissipate out of existence. But some theorize there is a chance these tiny black holes will stick around, and grow by consuming everything (us, for example.) There are also a few other scenarios including the creation of Strangelets, strange matter, and magnetic monopoles ... all potential disasters.

So what do you all think? Should we turn it on?

Clancy Sullivan

There is no PIE option in this poll, Aimee. WTF?


Edit: Oh, wait, there is a Hadron pie. Ok, sorry.



Better include a link to a story, otherwise people will post stupid replies, even stupider than mine.

Aimee Weber

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider

I added it just for you.

juro

Yes - we should turn it on. Chances are it won't screw up the world anymore than the current U.S. administration.

Briana Dawson

I say turn it on.

cassidiJ

Strange Matter...that apparently has a double meaning here...
From the link you provided:

Not to be too picky but there is that little matter of "the entire Universe" too.

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Aimee Weber

Yeah, it's true. There are theories that this thing could take the whole universe out.

cassidiJ

Not only are humans bad planet keepers they're also trashy with Universes too!

What's the Matter with us anyway?

Strange

Clancy Sullivan

Okay, I've been reading up on this Hadron thing, and it doesn't look too good. I suggest that anyone contemplating having sex with Cristiano or Kendra make his or her play now before this thing is turned on.

Still researching.

Asher Bertrand

Wow. I totally read that as a "giant hardon collider."

Cory Edo

Even if it does destroy the planet and/or universe, it'll only matter in the branch of reality where that event actually occurs. The branch in which everything turns out fine, or even gives free cake and pie to everyone that ever existed, will still be A-OK. I say flip that switch and get your party hats ready.

Walker

Jesus, this is the ultimate devil's advocate question.

Wouldn't it be negligent of us not to perform this experiment at some point?

The universe is almost certainly going to kill us in the end anyway .. but maybe, just maybe there's some hope, if we have the courage to try and work it all out.

Having said that .. Geneva is only 450 miles from London. I don't fancy toppling into a crater even if it only goes titsup on a small scale.

Walker

Oh, and I'd love to see CERN justify the expense of this thing if we're all still here in five years but there's still no sign of the Higgs Boson particle.

Tranquility

Its ok, Fermilab is hard at work to sabotage the Hadron collider! They'll protect us in the name of science!

Ewan Took

BBC did an end of world docu-drama showing lots of ways we could perish. This wasn't the most interesting way to go special effects wise. I'd rather wait for an asteroid strike or Yellowstone to erupt.

Joshua Nightshade

I thought they already turned it on a few years ago.

Anyway it all turns out fine. John Titor said so.

Tranquility

Its not completely built yet. There have been some setbacks with the construction including some failures in the supports of the superconducting magnets (designed by none other than Fermilab, the only other high energy collider in the world...located Batavia, Illinois).

http://www.nature.com/news/2007/0710...l/449761a.html

Joshua Nightshade

There's a Baklava, Illinois?

Tranquility

Batavia! Not Baklava the pastry!

Joshua Nightshade

Aimee Weber

I saw that. And it was actually more visually interesting than the reality.

If a mini black hole were to actually form and not dissipate I think it would expand at close to the speed of light. So the effect would be that we would be sitting at our computers minding our own business, then suddenly out of nowhere there would be intense gravity that slams us against the Switzerland-facing wall. Before you even had a chance to scream everything would blink to black.

That would be SO cool.

Steve Mahfouz

Would this be as much fun as dying during great sex ? Hmm.... I will have to ponder this

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Khamon

My uncle had a magnetic monopole once but it eated him all up and ran away.

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20 Ways the World Could End

GradyE

What would Pandora do?