http://www.boingboing.net/2008/06/24...n-collide.html

Large Hadron Collider probably won't destroy Earth

The Large Hadron Collider slated to be fired up in September isn't likely to accidentally generate any Earth-devouring black holes. That's according two new reports, including a safety review by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The world's most powerful particle accelerator may crank out black holes, but they'll be so tiny and vanish so quickly that we shouldn't worry. I wonder if these reports will appease those who filed a lawsuit against CERN fearing that the machine might suck Earth into a parallel universe.....

does that mean there would be two earths?

Well, I guess I can go along with this conclusion, but I must admit some trepidation at the idea of creating black holes, no matter how small, anywhere within light years of Earth!

I thought a black hole is the space behind a politician's eyes, or is that just a vacuum

Just vacuum. Black holes are what are commonly referred to as "Pork Barrel Projects".

If they make an earth-eating black hole, I'm going to boycott EU products!

I suspect the reason why we have not detected any evidence of other life in the universe is that their scientists also went down this road, and they're not around any more to send out radio signals. A little cosmic "gotcha you" from God.

Don't you love it when scientists use confidence building words like "..isn't likely to...".

If the 'tiny black holes vanish', where to? Do they just fill up and heal over?
Could we control them?, they would make great waste disposals, 'a black hole in every kitchen', (yes, I know about the wife jokes).

Originally Posted by eflightray

Don't you love it when scientists use confidence building words like "..isn't likely to...".

You noticed that too... Good thing FEMA isn't in charge of the darn thing.

How did you like this quote from Hawking?

However, such black holes, according to research first reported by Stephen Hawking in the 1970s, ought to rapidly radiate away their energy and evaporate in an instant, before doing any harm.

Originally Posted by eflightray

Don't you love it when scientists use confidence building words like "..isn't likely to...".

If the 'tiny black holes vanish', where to? Do they just fill up and heal over?
Could we control them?, they would make great waste disposals, 'a black hole in every kitchen', (yes, I know about the wife jokes).

They evaporate. Their mass is too small to prevent leaking of particles.

Can my alternate universe be full of hot chicks who like losers like me?

Originally Posted by BushmanLA

Can my alternate universe be full of hot chicks who like losers like me?

Nope. That's one of the alternate universal truths.

Originally Posted by lrsudog

They evaporate. Their mass is too small to prevent leaking of particles.

Yeah, but even Hawking used the word "ought" when describing it. Ought and likely are not a particularly comforting words when talking about destroying the earth.

Honestly, I'm not too worried but those are intersting word choices in the context of the discussion.

Originally Posted by Mr. Wiz

Yeah, but even Hawking used the word "ought" when describing it. Ought and likely are not a particularly comforting words when talking about destroying the earth.

Honestly, I'm not too worried but those are intersting word choices in the context of the discussion.

There were physicists who thought that the first nuclear bombs would ignite the oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere, while Oppenheimer et al thought it unlikely.

The ramifications of the collider have been modeled extensively. Still, no one "Knows" anything until it is tried. Should they stop because a few out of tens of thousands of educated specialists think the risk is too great?

Originally Posted by lrsudog

There were physicists who thought that the first nuclear bombs would ignite the oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere, while Oppenheimer et al thought it unlikely.

The ramifications of the collider have been modeled extensively. Still, no one "Knows" anything until it is tried. Should they stop because a few out of tens of thousands of educated specialists think the risk is too great?

Well, it is all *only* theory after all.


winkiesmilie

Originally Posted by BushmanLA

Can my alternate universe be full of hot chicks who like losers like me?

They will probably follow you everywhere.