Speaking of the LHC, the Boston Globe’s terrific feature The Big Picture has a slew of gorgeous pictures of the Large Hadron Collider up on the site.
These images, as beautiful and hi-res as they are, still cannot convey the awesome size and scale of the LHC. It’s been a year and a half since I stood there, 100 meters below of the surface of the Earth, gawking slack-jawed at ATLAS, CMS, and the other magnificent machinery, and it almost seems like a dream to me. But then I shake out of it and remember: this is what we do, and it’s real.
Secrets of the Universe? We humans figure that stuff out over coffee. What’s next?
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:11 am
Figuring out the secrets of the Universe in definitely cool but traveling to some distant star etc is so much much much cooler than any theoretical model, solved equation or accelerator. That’s what I was dreaming ever since I was young, but as it seems, it so not going to happen in the foreseeable future.
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:34 am
Images 3 and 4 are rather scary. Seems as if the total damage could have been worse than it was.
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:39 am
More LHC news!!!
http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/11/earth-destroyed-by-large-hadron-collider-martian-questioned/
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:52 am
I did the pleb’s above-ground-only tour earlier this year and was disappointed that you couldn’t see more of this amazing machinery, but I can appreciate their security concerns. Can’t wait to see what they find!
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:11 am
Never say Never
Maybe the LHC will tell us unexpected this about the space/time continuum that we had never expected. Who knows, maybe it will teach us about time travel and/or wormholes and intergalactic space-travel will be just around the corner
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:32 am
Of course, any time the LHC is mentioned, we need to put a cautionary there!
CREDIT: From http://punditkitchen.com/2009/11/19/political-pictures-large-hadron-collider-destroy-world/
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:42 am
Great pictures. Thanks for sharing the linkage Phil.
Just the fact that ‘we’ are able to build something like the LHC is truly a remarkable scientific achievement in and of itself. Like many in the community, I can hardly wait to see what new and amazing things we learn from it.
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:18 am
awesome pics, i would like to know how much metal the LHC contains, by the looks from pics ive seen, its a LOT
ps. hit F11 on you keyboard to get a full screen view
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:43 pm
[Points down beam tunnel]
“20 miles!”
[Points other direction]
“20 miles!”
[Points up]
“1200 levels! And 800 other shafts like this one!”
- Jack
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:54 pm
We humans figure that stuff out over coffee.
Or a pint! Or a martini or botle or two of wine or spirits. Personally I prefer alcohol to caffine!
Cool pic but I don’t get any sense of scale from it.
Okay having checked the other photos there I’ve gotta say photo # 23 or #30 would be my ch0ice there rather than #11 which you chose. Photos #16 & #2 give a good idea of scale too.
I also like the damage shot ( #4 ) & something about the guy in #8 reminds me of Dalek creator Davros ..
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Jack @ #9, thank you for that! It’s one of my all-time favorite cinematic memories! I’m still getting goosebumps from those words ringing through my mind in Walter Pidgeon’s inimitable voice.
~David D.G.
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Human beings are amazingly wonderful animals.
I am in awe of us.
November 24th, 2009 at 7:27 am
Oh my gosh!
Its the Yamato’s Wave Motion Gun!!!
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:11 am
I am filled with nothing but awe, wonder and sheer envy at the fact that you stood in and around this collosal device. To think! Standing at the very site that destroyed the entire human race!
I kid, but not abou tthe awe, wonder and sheer envy.
June 6th, 2011 at 6:15 am
@13. Douglas Killings : “Oh my gosh! Its the Yamato’s Wave Motion Gun!!!”
Classic reference! LOL.
(Click on my name to witness the WMG in action.)