[CandiceW]

Hey,
(not sure if this belongs here, just did not know where else to post)
I don't know about you.. but I am kind of freaked out by ATLAS.. anyone else scared of when the first beam goes out?
What are you opinion on this project?
I'm not any expert on this type of thing, just someone who is concerned on the effects of what they are doing.

If you have not heard of it here are some articles & sites:

B.C. scientists aim to unlock secrets of universe
http://www.straight.com/article-145556/end-world

ATLAS experiment
http://atlasexperiment.org/

European organization for nuclear research
http://public.web.cern.ch/Public/Welcome.html

[CandiceW]

Wow, it just blows my mind how no one can think this is important

[$pryNinja]

hmmm exploring physics from very high energy collisions? I'm not sure I understand the whys and hows of its importance unless they are trying to figure out how to harness more energy.

The plan for ATLAS is to discover the most basic building blocks of the universe and work to understand the most fundamental forces of nature.[/b]

Is it really all about atoms and proving the existence of the Higgs boson particle? I guess we'll see once they get their first test results back About it freaking me out.. not really but it does make me wonder how they financed such a project. It would be cool if they could prove that everything is connected on a physical level though But I don't think it will blow up the world or anything.

[SweetSimpleThings]

I know little to nothing about physics on this scale ... but I have to admit, I have an irrational fear of Black Holes (###### you, Nova!!) so as soon as I read that bit in the Straight article (by the way, I'm in B.C. too!) I kind of got a stomach flip-flop.

I don't know, I like to assume that that many scientists kind of know what they're doing ... but mucking about TOO much makes me nervous too.

I'll have to ask my hubby, he's the more scientific, rational version of me

[SweetSimpleThings]

So because I'm a total dork, I just e-mailed my DH at work and asked if he knew anything about this (he generally is up on the "science" news and works in technology) and whether I should be prepared for immenent black hole chaos. Actually, I just asked if it was something to be concerned about. Obviously he is NOT an expert, but here was his short answer:

The collider they built is simulating things which occur on an hourly
basis in our own upper atmosphere, when hypercharged particles collide
with our atmosphere.

In short, no, its nothing to worry about.

[zzz]

So because I'm a total dork, I just e-mailed my DH at work and asked if he knew anything about this (he generally is up on the "science" news and works in technology) and whether I should be prepared for immenent black hole chaos. Actually, I just asked if it was something to be concerned about. Obviously he is NOT an expert, but here was his short answer:

The collider they built is simulating things which occur on an hourly
basis in our own upper atmosphere, when hypercharged particles collide
with our atmosphere.

In short, no, its nothing to worry about.[/b]

Ditto - not worried. The "black hole" thing has been proven not true, even says it in the first article.

[Mud235]

This kinda reminds me of the show Eureka.