Large Hadron Collider Powers Up (Update 1)

by Rich Bowden - Sep 10 2008, 08:32

Updated to include news of the LHC device's first full circuit. $Sept.10 launch of CERN\'s large hadron collider. Image: CERN.$

Sept.10 launch of CERN\'s large hadron collider. Image: CERN.

The most important and expensive particle physics experiment in the history of science has commenced successfully today to the joy of physicists and the consternation of those who consider the safety of the planet to be at risk. At approximately 9:30am local time, the $10 billion USD Large Hadron Collider (LHC), housed beneath the CERN facility on the French/Swiss border, was switched on. The device duly launched a beam of protons at just under the speed of light and stopped one-eighth of a circuit around the massive, subterranean 27-kilometre tunnel to the "loud applause of the control room," CERN said on its Twitter site. "After the beam is injected, it takes about five seconds for the acquisition of the data," said LHC project leader Lyn Evans. Shortly afterwards, CERN's control screens registered the first data entry.Further news coming from CERN has confirmed that the Large Hadron Collider has now successfully completed its first full circuit, a moment it described as "historic".The experiment, the culmination of work by thousands of scientists from 85 nations, is designed to recreate the conditions experienced at the birth of the universe some 13.7 billion years ago, just one trillionth of a second following the Big Bang.The next stage will see CERN scientists begin to send a second stream of protons in the opposite direction around the collider in order to smash into the first release.Physicists hope the resulting mini-infernos created by the multitude of collisions will throw up new, previously unseen particles which will give the scientific community a better understanding of concepts such as the origin of mass and the nature of dark matter, which makes up the bulk of our universe.CERN controllers also hope the gigantic atom smasher will help scientists gain an insight into some of the mysteries of physics such as the extra dimensions of space-time and evidence of the existence of the mysterious Higgs boson, or "God particle". Named after British physicist Peter Higgs, who began work on the idea during the early 1960s, the boson is the theoretical 'missing link' of particle physics which, if found, could explain how the building blocks of matter acquire mass and how the forces that interact between them operate. To find such evidence would be considered a major step forward in the understanding of subatomic particles and indeed matter itself.Scientists are also hoping for the LHC to provide a better understanding of an overarching theory that would reconcile traditional physics and the weird laws governing subatomic particles.However, not everyone is happy at the experiment going ahead. Some have argued it will end disastrously, with the atomic collisions leading to the formation of minuscule black holes that will join together and gradually consume the planet. Many are taking this belief seriously enough to call on CERN to stop its experiment, citing serious safety concerns and even pointing to the possibility of a space-time “hole” being opened for the arrival of beings from other dimensions in space-time.Physicists have rejected these safety concerns, and CERN has released a statement saying the Earth is not at risk with the miniature black holes disappearing as soon as they are formed, if they are created at all.A full analysis of the multitude of collisions may take many years to perform and is well beyond the range of any one country or computer system. To assist CERN in its examination of the results, a worldwide, 60,000-strong bank of computers called the LHC Grid has been set up to scrutinize the collisions, although any major breakthroughs in particle physics may not be known for a while yet.For further information about the Large Hadron Collider, see CERN’s official Web page by clicking here.

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ShailaSep 10th, 2008 - 09:09:04

Why Panic ....

Its a powerful history of science, more than 5,000 scientists, engineers and students collaborating..

Be proud ....

worst come worst .. End !!!!!!

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Narendra Kr. ( Bunty )Sep 10th, 2008 - 10:17:46

its my bad luck, bcoz i also want 2 b ( as indian ) a part of ds amazing experiment. its really a great history forever. proud 2 b an such a great human being we ( people ) are. my best wishes for all scientist, students, engineers & others who participate in ds experiment.

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AshleighSep 11th, 2008 - 00:58:39

This isn't FAIR!!!!
dont you scientist usnderstand what use are risking here.
Well if you dont im going to tell you right now!!
People that have just started there lives got alot more to live for.
Young kids who want to have a family and live there life till there old.
But no your making everyone worry that there going to lose there lives.
Use are doing the wrong thing here.

i think all this should stop.
if we where suppose to no how the big bang happened we would of known by now. but obviously where not suppose to know.
stop being so curious about the big bang. you should be happy you have a life live to the max.

stop making people worry its EXTREAMLY WRONG AND UNFAIR.

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MatthewSep 13th, 2008 - 05:20:04

I am glad that our governments used 10 billion dollars on this thing hefty price tag means big results right? I really hope that all that have cancer, disease, hunger, and other worldly problems benefit from this machine if not then the U.S. seriously wasted 536 million dollars of our tax money. Can't really eat a collider but oh well.

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Jordan Ellen, New ZealandNov 30th, 2008 - 10:21:04

This is possibly the most important experiment in entire human history a chance to examine the uttermost point of the beginning of our existence the universes existence the nature of space time and in general the reality of the world we live in we know nothing in comparison to what we dont know time space the nature of expanding contracting or galaxies limits of the universe...........does it continue on forever????

this is one of the first steps we as a human race are taking to understand this so all of you unenlightend people who cant think beyond the automatous actions that are your daily lives in which you do not give any consideration to any of these matters please stop argueing!

sometimes i wish maybe the world could be reduced to the scientists the 'thinkers' of the world which contribute positively to the human race the evolution of knowledge of the world we live in a complete devotion of resources manpower to tackle the types of questions the collider attempts to answer instead the majority of the world wander around in a daze living their materialistic lives thinking nothing other than the next weeks shopping next movie or sitcom on t.v the halarity of the jerry springer show as they like a cancer slowly but surely devour the life and resources of the world taking all but giving nothing.

makes you wonder?

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Large Hadron Collider Powers Up (Update 1)

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