Yesterday, the Large Hadron Collider once again had a beam of protons whizzing around its 27 km-long circumference!
After a series of setbacks — some devastating, holding up the world’s largest scientific experiment for many months — this milestone achieved shows that the collider is heading back to full operations, which should get started again next year. There will be press conference about this on Monday November 23rd at 1:00 p.m. GMT, which will be webcast live.
And if you’re wondering what the crew at CERN think of this latest news, then take a look at this picture of them looking at the results of the start up:
That picture makes me smile. Those unemotional, cold, calculating scientists. Why can’t they ever reveal their true feelings?
November 21st, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Phil, there’s a rumor spreading about the internet that the scientists at CERN are planning to use their proton beams to adjust the quantum neurodynamics of helpless abductees, thereby transforming them into zombies. Already people are disappearing off the streets, only to return days later, with stories of being immobilized by powerful magnets and bombarded by proton beams. These people have been shown to be soulless, and they suffer a constant craving for human brains…
November 21st, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Look at all those scientists rejoicing over the impending destruction of the universe. For shame!
Hopefully some equally happy group of scientists
are workingwill get to work on sabotaging those evil, universe-destroying scientists from thepastpresent.November 21st, 2009 at 3:28 pm
The simple joy of geeks and their toys.
November 21st, 2009 at 3:34 pm
LoL, the lady in the bottom right corner doesn’t look all that thrilled!
November 21st, 2009 at 3:35 pm
.. and I thought they were simply celebrating my Birthday!
Can I have a Higg’s discovery for Christmas, please, Please, PLEASE!!!!
November 21st, 2009 at 3:39 pm
4. Murff:
She’s probably not as happy as the males, because what THEY’RE going on about is the girl on stage,,,
LHC? What? Oh! Never mind.
So, what’s first on the agenda? Nuetralinos, Higgs Boson, micro-black holes or something even more interesting?
GAry 7
November 21st, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I was stunned to see a very level-headed post about CERN on CNN.com this morning. It was decently written, made NO mention of the stupid rumours on the internet, and actually explained in detail, the whole purpose of the machine.
Someone clearly hacked CNN.com and placed this article on there. LOL.
November 21st, 2009 at 3:40 pm
“Wow, they’ve chosen Baroness Catherine Ashton as High Representative for Foreign Affairs! I never saw that coming!”
November 21st, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I do not see that picture on the link provided. Embiggening unpossible.
November 21st, 2009 at 3:57 pm
That’s nice and all, but will the LHC do anything practical, like eliminating static cling or enlarging penises? Er, not that I have trouble with those. Well, one of them.
November 21st, 2009 at 4:09 pm
To know how scientists truly feel, you just have to read their email.
November 21st, 2009 at 4:20 pm
But where’s Gordon Freeman? I can’t see him in those pictures!
(http://blog.reddit.com/2008/11/crowbar-arrived-at-cern-freeman-was.html)
I hope he didn’t lose his crowbar…
November 21st, 2009 at 4:27 pm
They’re trying to Destroy The Earth!
but don’t worry, Trans-dimensional quantum water will save us!
But seriously folks. This thing is mega-cool!
Particle Physics FTW !
November 21st, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Has the LHC destroyed the world yet?
November 21st, 2009 at 4:38 pm
I heard that the LHC will open a rift in the space-time continuum, allowing Nero to come through and drop red matter into Earth’s core. Granted, I was pretty buzzed on caffeine and laxatives at the time.
November 21st, 2009 at 4:48 pm
I was hoping it’d take them until 2012 to get the LHC going just to see how silly the woo can get!
Good news anyhow, I think!
November 21st, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Assuming the LHC will destroy the world *how* do folks think it will do so?
See the BAUT forum : http://www.bautforum.com/fun-n-games/95610-poll-how-will-lhc-end-world.html
where I’ve put up a poll with options being :
1.) By creating a black hole -
1b) or strange (quark?) matter that will swallow the Earth /transfrorm it into a quark star the size of a pea or smaller.
2) By opening a transdimensional portal opening us up to aliens
2b. Future beings /
2c.the hell dimension a.k.a. the ‘Doom’ scenario!
3) Y’know how splitting the atom lead to the really Big bomb thingy & an earth shaking Kaboom!? Well splitting the Higgs boson = an even bigger literally Earth shattering KA Boom!
3b) Chain reaction involving Higgs boson & its role re: mass ends up destroying gravity either planet-wide or entire cosmos …
4) God. He really hates us messing with His particles!
5) Sorry I’m a killjoy who just doesn’t buy that premise – the LHC just will not do the Apocalypse job!
6) Other – please suggest in the comments.
In case you’re wondering, yes, this is somewhat tongue in cheek.
No refund will be provided should our planet fail to self-destruct on (”proper”) LHC activation & in event of Apocalypse occuring ..Well do you really you expect me to find away to pay up then? No bets!
November 21st, 2009 at 5:04 pm
4. Murff:
She and the guy sitting to her left are part of the team from the future. They’ve given themselves away by not feigning jubilation to match that of the scientists.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Don’t cross the streams.
November 21st, 2009 at 6:05 pm
But crossing the streams (or rather, aiming them right at each other) is the whole point of the LHC!
November 21st, 2009 at 6:38 pm
StevoR:
7) Instead of the Higgs Boson, they discover the Woo Boson, the source of all the woo-woo in the universe. It immediately expands and swallows up the Earth, but chokes when it gets to Jenny McCarthy and goes “Ping!” making the LHC the world’s most expensive machine that goes “Ping!”
[Obligatory Monty Python reference.]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arCITMfxvEc
November 21st, 2009 at 6:38 pm
[...] and should be sleeping for an early start tomorrow, and so I’ll simply point over to Phil’s blog for some more links, a picture, this link to more pictures, and more [...]
November 21st, 2009 at 6:58 pm
@4 She’s probably a grad student that had her projected graduation delayed two years and is purely thinking “about damn time…”
November 21st, 2009 at 7:17 pm
What!!! Nobody had an eyeball ripped out?
November 21st, 2009 at 7:58 pm
17. StevoR Says:
3) Y’know how splitting the atom lead to the really Big bomb thingy & an earth shaking Kaboom!? Well splitting the Higgs boson = an even bigger literally Earth shattering KA Boom!
I always WONDERED what that gadget Marvin the Martian had was…..
J/P=?*
November 21st, 2009 at 8:40 pm
I can’t wait until the LHC triggers the FlashForward!
November 21st, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Congratulations to the world! Science blazes on!
November 21st, 2009 at 11:59 pm
So when is it going to sabotage itself from the future again?
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:51 am
BBC news just has to fuzz their facts though:
“During 14 months of repairs dozens of giant superconducting magnets that accelerate particles at the speed of light had to be replaced.”
Except for light itself, no particle is accelerated *to* the speed of light. Accelerating *at* the speed of light makes no sense (except perhaps if you’re talking about gravitational effects on light). The LHC doesn’t accelerate just any particle, it accelerates protons (and anti-protons); it would need some major changes to accelerate anything else since all the equipment is adjusted to deal with maintaining a beam of particles with the charge and mass of a proton, not to mention the particle source is designed to emit protons.
It’s understandable that all the people involved would be excited; it’s been many many years of calculations, design, building and testing – and soon they may be able to start those experiments which they had planned over a decade ago. Of course it’s also nice to be able to claim that you could smash protons together so violently that they fall apart and spray other particles all over the place.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:56 am
“Those unemotional, cold, calculating scientists. ”
If they were (at least about science), science would advance much faster. Not sure why you’d not want them to be.
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:58 am
Don’t cross the streams.
دردشة العرب
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:10 am
@ 21. Richard Drumm The Astronomy Bum Says:
StevoR:
7) Instead of the Higgs Boson, they discover the Woo Boson, the source of all the woo-woo in the universe. It immediately expands and swallows up the Earth, but chokes when it gets to Jenny McCarthy and goes “Ping!” making the LHC the world’s most expensive machine that goes “Ping!” [Obligatory Monty Python reference.]
Nice one. LOL.
@ 24. Ricky Says:
What!!! Nobody had an eyeball ripped out?
I take it you’ve seen ‘Event Horizon’ then?
@ 30. Leander Says:
“Those unemotional, cold, calculating scientists. ”
If they were (at least about science), science would advance much faster. Not sure why you’d not want them to be.
Because they’re human?
Not sure I agree with your premise there – passion – curiousity, a sense of wonder and joy at the cosmos is what makes & motivates a scientist, In My Humble Opinion Natch.
Exhibit A – Carl Sagan, Exhibit B – Brian Cox, Exhibit C – Dr Phil Plait here!
Also, why is calculating always seen as a “cold emotionless” thing to do? Can’t somebody calculate emotionally, joyously and with a twinkle in their eye?
I think Einstein for one did so ..
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:53 am
#30:
I disagree. People tend to work harder and for longer hours on things they get emotionally excited about. If the scientists treated it like an ordinary 9-5 job, less would get done.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:44 pm
I love the CERN photo. This will obviously be a battle to the death! Perhaps Monday Night Football will be followed by Tuesday Night Colliders.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Ahem! My friends and I at the TeVatron would like not only to congratulate our colleagues at the LHC but also to remind the world that we are still cooler. Nyah!
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:37 pm
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/10/05/colliding-beam-accelerators-%E2%80%94-will-they-reveal-the-ultimate-particles/
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:51 pm
LoL, the lady in the bottom right corner doesn’t look all that thrilled!
She’s Swiss.
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:54 pm
37. Steve in Dublin Says:
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:51 pm
LoL, the lady in the bottom right corner doesn’t look all that thrilled!
She’s Swiss.
————————-
Is this normal for Swiss? Are they like Vulcans or something?
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:58 am
@ND #38
Is this normal for Swiss? Are they like Vulcans or something?
Something like that. I once saw a joke circulating in work that had traits for certain nationalities listed, but they were the exact opposite of what you would find in actuality. It was so far back I can’t recall all of it, but 3 that stuck out were (and I’m a Yank, so taking the piss out of myself here too):
The organisational skills of an Italian
The sincerity of an American
The natural effervescence of a Swiss
And so…
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:53 pm
@ND #34, Steve #35
Being married to a Swiss (German) lady, I can assure you that rumours of them being passionless are most definitely not true…
She’s probably Swiss (French) and thus all gallic and pouty
November 24th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Well, let’s get serious for a moment. Will the LHC fail again? I am afraid that the real cause of previous failures have been minimized. In 2005 or so it was a pressure problem on the electromagnets. Last year they said was a badly soldered contact that melted. No matter what they say at bottom the theorists of the machine are ignoring a basic piece of classical science, none other than Newton’s 3rd law of action and reaction. Engineers might be smarter and have dwelt with it. But it is still to be seen if this blind spot in their theories is going to trick them again into destructive back reactions against the superconducting electromagnets. Cross your fingers and wait till the high energies are achieved.