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Ugh. No particles will ever be detected by these plastic toy block sculptures. While a non-functional LEGO version of something the resembles a experimental eq
by terminado 9y ago
Ugh. No particles will ever be detected by these plastic toy block sculptures.
While a non-functional LEGO version of something the resembles a experimental equipment might be fun for some people, none of these things are actually particle detectors.
- crpatino 9y agoRight, I was about to make the exact same comment (in much less charitable terms). I do not think we are anywhere close to a DIY subatomic particle detector, but a kit that would allow you to, let's say... test for common minerals in tap water, would be a cool gift for a STEM inclined teenager.
- SomeStupidPoint 9y agoYou can make DIY cloud chambers pretty easily.
- crpatino 9y agoThanks for the keyword, let me ask google now.
- dukwon 9y ago> I do not think we are anywhere close to a DIY subatomic particle detector You've probably got one in your pocket already https://arxiv.org/abs/1410.2895 https://arxiv.org/abs/1410.2895
- crpatino 9y agoYou are missing the DoItYourself part. I am aware consumer electronics have lots of interesting sensors. The issue is, can a reasonably intelligent person with hand tools and standard parts from the hardware store build one?
- jfoutz 9y agoCloud detectors are pretty easy to come by, right? There's a small cyclotron community, it takes a few years, but people have built them. 30's era tech is DIY able.
- maverick_iceman 9y agoNot exactly what you had in mind, but you can gift a Geiger counter.
- fao_ 9y agoI'm surprised that you thought that the LEGO toys would be able to detect anything in the first place.
- fake-name 9y agoThe link is not called "Build your own particle detector physical facsimile out of LEGO", its called "Build Your Own Particle Detector". Considering the general HN content, I assumed that a "model" LHC particle detector would be a scaled down version of the actual system, as in one that works, albeit likely at much lower energies. It's not like garage particle stuff isn't a thing. People build fusion reactors in their garage pretty regularly[1]. A LEGO model is very different from a practical model. I confess I too clicked the link expecting some cool DIY particle physics stuff, and came away highly disappointed. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusor
- khedoros1 9y agoI don't think anyone thought they could build a detector out of Lego; they thought that a story titled "Build Your Own Particle Accelerator" (and not originally mentioning "Micro Models"), hosted at "https://build-your-own-particle-detector.org/" https://build-your-own-particle-detector.org/", would have something more interesting to them than instructions for Lego models.