Large Hadron Collider to Go Online on Sept. 10 Despite Death Threats

[vaxocentric]

This may seem like a ridiculously geeky thing to get excited about (okay, it is), but there’s a tremendous potential for understanding of our universe that this new machine can unlock. I’ve been eagerly waiting for this day for several years now. The first particles to be circulated are scheduled for tomorrow, 9/10. The first ‘real’ collisions are

Comments

[bluenautilus]

Gee, I hope the world doesn't end before your party.

[vaxocentric]

No no- we're safe at least until October 21. WE CAN HAZ PARTY! :D

[peglegpete]

You're scheduling an end of the world party for that night, right?

[twinbee]

The first ‘real’ collisions are planned for 10/21.

I'll be 26! Can't ask for a better gift from the universe.

[dragonbec]

I've been really interested in this for a while now, waiting to see what's going to be learned. I got reminded of how excited I was when a photo news blog thing that I always read did a photo story on it.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/08/the_large_hadron_collider.html

Some of the pictures just blew me away. Human engineering can be truly stunning.

I'm not scared. I mean if the world does get sucked into a black hole, I seriously doubt we'd even know what hit us ;)

[bluestained_elf]

Unless time is warped, in which case it could theoretically be slowed down to a snail's pace and being crushed could seem to take an eternity from our perspective.

I've been following this as well, and telling everyone at work that the end is nigh!

[vaxocentric]

Yeah, the engineering is really, really incredible. And everything pretty much has to be perfect. Insane!

[aerospace]

Somewhat on topic, I saw a gum commercial tonight that posed the question "How long does the flavor last?" And they answered it saying "It lasts longer than it took to make the universe!" And I thought "Congrats on making gum flavor that lasts longer than 10^-36 seconds or whatever ridiculously minuscule time frame it took."

[vaxocentric]

hahaha
so true!!
but hey, if it sounds good, who cares if the meaning completely undermines the intended message?! It's not what you say, but how you say it!!
Actually, I do get rather ruffled when the marketing folks completely botch terms and further spread misinformation or otherwise incorrect terms. Like Quantum Leap. UGH.

[twinbee]