Large Haldron Collider

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JSBulmer
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Large Haldron Collider

Post by JSBulmer »

This did not get much North American coverage, but according to the news today, the Large Haldron Collider [LHC] successfully sent two beam of protons in opposite directions.

Although this is the first of a number of experiments it is an exciting development towards ultimately colliding the protons to study more of the development of the universe. 2012 is the target for this collision.

I wonder whether the results of this experiment will have a significant impact on mankind or upon our philosophical discussions as to why we are here [and possibly how we got here]?
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PrivateVoid
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Post by PrivateVoid »

I doubt a result (even an exciting one) from the LHC will have any impact of the level you describe.

The Higgs boson (the unfortunately nicknamed "God" particle) would be nice to find and the news sources will undoubtedly proclaim that "God has been found", etc, etc. It will be talked about on the Today show, and GMA for a few days and then everyone will forget about it.

Any results from the LHC or any scientific experiment at such a scale would require analysis, repetition, and years of study to come to any conclusion.

I also doubt even the LHC has enough energy to get to the "bottom of things".

Despite the cynicism, I am actually quite interested in the subject.
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JSBulmer
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Post by JSBulmer »

I actually know very little about the whole LHC thing beyond what I have read within the news.

Not being a physicist I get very mind boggled by discussions about the most minute particles imaginable. I am a scientist, and have an interest in this whole experiment.

Like you described I am sure that the media and the various PR companies will be all over this.

jb
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wanabe
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Post by wanabe »

I don't understand why sending two beams of positively charged particles in opposite directions would show us any thing we didn't know; similar charges repel each other.

What science do you study JSBulmer (what kind of scientist are you)?
Secret To Eternal Life: Live Life To The Fullest, Help All Others To Do So.Meaning of Life Is Choice. Increase choice through direct perception. Golden rule+universality principal+Promote benefits-harm+logical consistency=morality.BeTheChange.
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JSBulmer
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Post by JSBulmer »

I am educated and trained as a professional engineer, altho I do not align myself strictly with engineers.

Science is a large part of the education and training so I claim the term scientist as a general description of what I do.

Although I find that I spend more of my time on the non engineering aspects of my profession in terms of the psychology of interpersonal interactions, philosophy and others such aspects of life. I found early on that engineers were far too focused on numbers and theories.

jb
"The lies of today will become the truths of tomorrow"

"If a thought never escapes the mind of the thinker, did it ever exist?"
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Alun
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Post by Alun »

wanabe wrote:I don't understand why sending two beams of positively charged particles in opposite directions would show us any thing we didn't know; similar charges repel each other.
Basically they're being hurled at one another so hard that they break open, so we can see what's inside. (See wiki on it.) The idea is that it will be a model for the high-energy state that the whole universe was in right after the big bang--it could also tell us more about the particles that compose protons, quarks.
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wanabe
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Post by wanabe »

Thank you Alun, have you thought about editing that wiki page?
wiki wrote:This article may need to be rewritten entirely to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. You can help. The discussion page may contain suggestions. (May 2009)
This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2008)
Secret To Eternal Life: Live Life To The Fullest, Help All Others To Do So.Meaning of Life Is Choice. Increase choice through direct perception. Golden rule+universality principal+Promote benefits-harm+logical consistency=morality.BeTheChange.
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Alun
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Post by Alun »

I suck at physics; I prefer chemistry. :D
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Re: Large Haldron Collider

Post by lifegazer »

JSBulmer wrote:2012 is the target for this collision.
Gulp. Not December 21st, I trust? :!:
Raymond
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Re: Large Haldron Collider

Post by Raymond »

Why not clash electrons at one another? Small distances can be explored and I bet my money interesting stuff can be seen.
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