4 ms·
The problem with Hadron is that two particles will hit each other precisely head on, which is not what happens when cosmic energy passes through the earth. Eve
by ckinnan 18y ago
The problem with Hadron is that two particles will hit each other precisely head on, which is not what happens when cosmic energy passes through the earth.
Even the project's organizers admit there's a remote chance of destroying the planet through black holes or the creation of matter-altering stranglets.
I don't think the head-on collisions start until 2012 though.
- tel 18y agoI've heard probabilities between 10^-19 and 10^-25. Better yet, if black holes start to form that take a little too long to evaporate it's probably quite likely they'll be detected before one capable of destroying the earth. This was on HN earlier today: http://cosmicvariance.com/2008/08/04/what-will-the-lhc-find/ http://cosmicvariance.com/2008/08/04/what-will-the-lhc-find/
- stcredzero 18y agoUh, what exactly do you mean by "precisely head on?" The particles are aimed only such that you have one stream going through the same region of space as another stream. They are not taking an individual particle and aiming it marksman-like at another individual particle. Even if this were the case, ever hear of "Relativity?" The whole point is that there are no special reference frames. A particle hitting another oncoming "head on" is the same as another hitting a "stationary" one. The point being: there is no distinction between the LHC's particle collisions and cosmic rays colliding with matter around our planet. And as far as "remote chance" goes, given the huge number of collisions that already happen with even greater energies, this chance must be about as remote as a droplet of water being thrown spontaneously from a still glass of water to the ceiling. There is a finite probability, but it's so low, it's practically zero. http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4109 http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4109