Inside the big-bang machine

kasi anantha — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:50:11 GMT

I am very thrilled to know that Europeans are building the machine we should have built years ago in Texas ( SSC). They are leading the search for the ultimiate truth of the Universe.

Inside the big-bang machine

To — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 02:14:47 GMT

The quality of the video is just awful, clip duration too short. The audio is useless. How can the world highest tech machine be shown by the a lowest tech YouTube clip?

Inside the big-bang machine

Thomas Ashby, Calgary — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 04:40:19 GMT

I wonder what they expect to see even though none of these kinds of collision products have ever been seen.
Or do they really have no idea what will be seen.

Inside the big-bang machine

Alan Boyle — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 04:41:50 GMT

Yes, you're right, To ... I did say this trip would be a bit of an experiment, and I'd have to say the idea of putting together quickie video postcards was an experiment that failed. Sorry about that. It's pretty noisy and cramped down there, so I guess that's why you don't often see video that's shot off the cuff down at the LHC level. And of course you can blame the videographer as well. ;-) I'm going to take stock today (with the thunder and lightning crackling outside like a "Frankenstein" movie), but I'm pretty sure I'm going to resist the urge to inflict my snapshots on you (so as to head off the torch-and-pitchfork parade to my door). You can look forward to great imagery by folks who do this for a living when we present our full package closer to the time of the LHC's start of operations.

Inside the big-bang machine

Chris Eldridge — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 04:55:17 GMT

The Higgs almost sounds like a focal lens for the translation of the underlying unified properties of nature into its seemingly separate elements or particles. Mass being made up of a “Field” is a very far reaching thought. The size of the thing is just stupefying and I saved that top photo last time I saw it here on the log. I had no idea what to expect in a collider. You of course imagine a fairly narrow tube most of the way around but if you were to ask me yesterday I would have thought a detector might have been no larger than my closet. Um… If not table top… Ha-ha! 17 stories eh? Just a little bit different I should think! One of the things I love about aviation and other manufacturing fields is the factories where they assemble them. I love to look at all the big ‘assembly jigs’ as they call them that are blue-railed multi-level work platforms that surround the aircraft. Such jigs are quite complex and often even rotate that body so that workers can work at a more comfortable angle. I see a lot of that industrial intricacy in your videos and appreciate the engineering that goes into all that!

Inside the big-bang machine

Alan Boyle — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 04:55:29 GMT

Thomas, the big thing that they're hoping to see is the Higgs boson (named after Peter Higgs, one of the physicists who first proposed its existence). A boson, by the way, is the technical term for a particle that has a spin value that's an integer (like the photon) rather than a half-spin (like the proton or electron). If you're not involved in the particle physics game, don't worry about the distinction.

This particle is thought to be responsible for the phenomenon of mass. To quote the LHC FAQ: "According to the theory of the Higgs mechanism, the whole of space is filled with a 'Higgs field,' and by interacting with this field, particles acquire their masses. Particles that interact strongly with the Higgs field are heavy, while those that have weak interactions are light."

The particle behind the Higgs field is the only particle predicted by the Standard Model that has not yet been observed, and physicists hope that the LHC will find it because of the high energies the collider can achieve. If they don't find the particle, that could mean there's something fundamentally wrong with the way scientists think the subatomic world works, even though that understanding has worked very, very well over the past century (as seen by how well things like TVs, microwave ovens and PET scanners work).

Other things the scientists will be looking for are "supersymmetric particles" - partner particles that have been theorized to exist for every currently known particle. If the theory is correct, the LHC should see the first evidence for the existence of those particles. If they're found, that could help answer mysteries about the "dark matter" that appears to be more abundant than ordinary matter, even though we can't see it directly. It could also hint at the existence of extra dimensions. Extra dimensions, by the way, could provide an explanation for why the LHC doesn't find the Higgs boson, if that turns out to be the case.

Another big goal is to learn more about why matter is so dominant over antimatter in the visible universe. The physicists at the LHC hope to study the decay process for a type of particle known as the B-quark, as well as the B-antiquark. If they can document differences in the way they decay, that could shed more light on the observed asymmetry between matter and antimatter (and maybe give some ideas to a future Scotty on "Star Trek").

We'll delve into all this and more (mini-black holes and quark-gluon plasma, cosmic-ray energy and so forth) in the full package that we're here gathering information for.

Inside the big-bang machine

Spyros Solomou — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 10:35:45 GMT

Maybe with this Collider Scientists might prove the existence of the graviton, the theoretical particle that forms gravity and String theory.

Inside the big-bang machine

Chet Twarog — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 11:25:40 GMT

Awe! We can be such a fantastic species!

Inside the big-bang machine

Matthew "Floyd" Clough — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 13:05:25 GMT

This is SO amazing. I've been reading up on this for a good month now (blew my mind initially!), and I have to admit I'm very anxious for spring to roll around next year.

There's so much that could result from this...

Inside the big-bang machine

Tony Webb Wilmington, North Carolina — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 15:06:55 GMT

Amazing! A location where the top physicists can work to help the future of planet Earth. I do hope this work will lead to the creation of a new space propulsion system that will be based on Zero Point Energy. Then humans will journey deep into space as a space-faring society.

Inside the big-bang machine

Chris Eldridge, HBG PA — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 15:51:21 GMT

This is a photo of those assembly jigs I mentioned:

http://www.a400m-countdown.com/galerie/06_FAL/hd/04.jpg

It is from the A400M1 military transport to replace the C-130 and is one of my favorites. I just love the intricacy of all the ladders and safety railing not to mention the thought that has to go into the whole process! Thus, seeing those videos and the 'guts' of the machine are indeed way cool!

If I was the engineer, I might consider the entire underground facitliy as a possible emergency shelter just in case the world above decides to do some big bang experiments of their own. All it would take is just some backup wells for water, some extra bathrooms, and some ventilation modifications. Just a thought... most things should have as many additional purposes as they can whether geared for doomsday or not.

Inside the big-bang machine

Thomas Ashby, Calgary — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 15:56:39 GMT

Thanks Alan for your answer. Interestingly, cosmic ray (particle) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_rays energies are far greater than any man-made energies. How they are accelerated in the universe is totally unknown.

Inside the big-bang machine

Alan Boyle — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:32:49 GMT

Thomas, there are a couple of LHC connections to cosmic ray observations. First, one of the smaller experiments known as LHCf will be analyzing the particles produced close to the proton-proton collisions to test models used to estimate the primary energy of cosmic rays. Also, the detector teams will be using muons produced by cosmic rays to check out their muon detectors in advance of beam start-up. By the way, this Web site claims that you can make your own muon detector to spot cosmic rays:

http://www.cosmicrays.org/

Inside the big-bang machine

Todd, Natchitoches, LA — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 18:30:42 GMT

Too bad it won't have near the power output of the SCSC. 7 TeV versus 20 TeV. No telling what could be discovered with such an increase in power.

Inside the big-bang machine

Mark, KC, Mo — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 18:39:31 GMT

The sad thing is that so many Evangelicals in the US would have our investigation of nature begin and end with: God created the universe. The reality is so much more enlightening, and awe-inspiring. They're the ones missing out on all the fun!

Inside the big-bang machine

Thomas Ashby, Calgary — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 19:27:32 GMT

Picure that eh? A muon detector in "your" backyard! Thanks. You sure are a trooper in bringing space science to us.

Inside the big-bang machine

Mike Moss, Alexandria, VA — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 19:51:36 GMT

[...] If anything, Evangelicals are excited about the science being done at the LHC. In one point, Mark is correct in that Evangelicals would have our investigation of nature begin with: God created the universe. I think it is incredibly exciting to be looking deeper into this complex, fascinating universe He has created for us to explore.

Inside the big-bang machine

Mephistopheles, Oberon's Dream, AL — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 20:08:06 GMT

Does anyone wonder if this machine will accidentally spark a new big bang that will tear our Universe to shreds? Or maybe it might open a portal to another dimension, say H.ell? Comeon, I'm not evangelical, but the nature of this massive machine seems pretty scary to me.

Inside the big-bang machine

TheFallibleFiend@hotmail.com, LORTON, VA — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:07:19 GMT

The only way to get good at something is to do it and keep doing it. Anyway, these are amazing times we live in. So much BS going on and so much really cool stuff.

Inside the big-bang machine

Chris Eldridge, HBG PA — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:16:28 GMT

20 vs 7 Tev?? Is that what the Texas super colider was capable of? It was cancelled when the republicans came to power in congress. Too bad it wasn't the space station they cancelled instead. Has even just one science paper been written based on experiments from that thing?

Inside the big-bang machine

Red Pill Junkie, Mexico city — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:18:03 GMT

Thanks so much for the clips Alan. Yeah, they are a bit sloppy but it really captures the "feeling" of being there during the actual construction of the LHC.

I know I'm a fool, but for a moment I could imagine I was seeing actual footage of the construction of the DEATH STAR! LOL ;-)

Inside the big-bang machine

Phil, Newark, California — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 02:20:01 GMT

On Mephistopheles' post: I believe it has been stated that there are already cosmic rays that have more energy than the LHC will be capable of. This means that events of the energy densities that will be attempted have happened numerous times in the history of the universe, yet the universe is still stable. Thus, I believe that it is unlikely that we will "damage" spacetime. Once we can exceed the energy densities in a supernova, then it will be time to worry about such things.

Inside the big-bang machine

Lancaster, CA — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 05:59:46 GMT

Actually, I think the collider was cancelled in 1993, shortly after Bill Clinton took control of the White House, and while the Democrats still controlled both houses of Congress.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superconducting_Super_Collider

The article does seem to suggest that Clinton may have tried to prevent the cancellation, or at least spoke favorably about the project.

Inside the big-bang machine

David Landi, Warwick, R.I. — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 19:17:16 GMT

Since we have "No" Grand Unified Theory as yet, and probably will never be able to know the "Big, Big Picture" of whence everything from time to matter originated, including the "singularity" we speak of, like we even know what a singularity is. Would it not be prudent to at least have a solid understanding of the implications of creating a Quark Muon Gas at such high energies, and wether or not it may self perpetuate and maybe cause a "Real Big Bang,"? Most great minds would like to believe we do not live and exist in "Flatland," I think it's More likely than not.

Inside the big-bang machine

Doug Gluntz, Benicia, California — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 06:50:18 GMT

?Why are you even going to worry about whether it "self-perpetuates" or "causes a 'Real Big Bang'"? Neither you, me, nor anyone else you ever met or even ever heard of, will be around to lament, a micro-instant afterward....so what's the problem? Think of the big picture...you won't have to pay your mortgage or even put up with overly long stays by your mother-in-law. Please clue me in to who's going to be tear-struck....and why..... And should one simply "need" something to worry about, go worry about some binary neutron stars a few thousand light years away spiralling into each other sometime before your 2009 Fed Income Taxes become due!

Inside the big-bang machine

Bob Smith — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 17:21:03 GMT

Apparently this thing can also possibly create a black hole which could swallow up the world in less that a second. :)

Inside the big-bang machine

Robin Briggs, Washington DC — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:08:25 GMT

All you people are saying is not possible. The amount of energy needed to achieve black holes (and other exotic cosmic creations of such destructive capabilities) is far beyond what this collider can create. I think Doug is correct. The real fear should be in a supernova occurance a few hundred to thousands of light years away. Something like that would cook us all in ratiation. This collider is only one of mans greatest inventions. Human truly are an amazing species. We should revel in our abilities to create such things.

Inside the big-bang machine

Hasanuddin, Dot Mass — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:32:34 GMT

I believe that LHC will produce mini black holes that will not safely evaporate away. Several reasons. First the idea that mini black holes will evaporate is cavalier wishful thinking. Would we accept such assurances from a biotech lab? Suppose the lab reported revolutionary benefits of conducting an experiment where they insert small pox genes into an influenza host--with the solemn assurance that any and all samples will immediately be destroyed. Would we just let them waltz on ahead? I think not.

The other reason I believe that the mini black holes will be stable is because I am advancing a revolutionary new model, the Dominium, that suggests that mini black holes will stay stable as voracious matter compacting beasts. Debate has been hot and heavy on my Scientific American blog. I invite anyone to come on over and join the “fun.” Just go the SciAm.com, click on “community”, and then search under my name “Hasanuddin” You wouldn’t believe some of the harsh words that my detractors have against me. The funniest thing is that the people with the harshest words adamantly declare that they have never read the model. Go figure? Of those who have read the model, they have nothing but positive things to say…though they all hope that I am wrong about the stable mini black-holes, or, if I am right, that LHC can be stopped in time.

If you do chose to join in the discussion, please read the model first. You can download the half-version for free (instructions are within the threads of my SciAm blog) or you can purchase the full book (the paperback is more complete) at online bookstores

Inside the big-bang machine

Pierre Charland, Iselin, NJ — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:24:36 GMT

"Europeans are building the machine we should have built years ago in Texas (SSC)."
That is true. They also built the VLT telescope,and are building the ITER fusion reactor.
All this while US Science is going down the drain, with money wasted on the scientifically useless Space Shuttle and ISS Space Station (and the war...).
Just look at the science budget of the last 6 years.
It's a shame, but more than that it's a tragedy! And since the US national debt is still growing fast, the worst is still to come. It's all very sad.
http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/prev09p.htm
http://brillig.com/debt_clock/faq.html

Inside the big-bang machine

Gene R. amsterdam, NY — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:37:08 GMT

As a believer in 'In the beginning God' I find the recent discoveries concerning dark matter facinating and I cannot wait until this experiment proves what we've known all along, there had to be a designer, the first cause.

Inside the big-bang machine

Robert Poole, Frankfort, Kentucky — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:04:24 GMT

This is all quite interesting. I have just started reading the biography of John Archibald Wheeler. It's like watching all back to the future movies at once. I am reading one minute of them discussing nuclear fusion and wondering about photons and quarks and ten minutes later I am reading how they trying to see the spread of the matter and antimatter in a collider. Wheeler, Bohr and Einstein would be proud. I agree the time of answering some of these energy questions aren't so much based on how long it will take to figure out as how long it will take to fund the progress to get to fusion power you can harness.

Inside the big-bang machine

Melissa, Miami, Florida — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:07:40 GMT

I dont understand this whole thing.. When the big bang is recreated are we all going to die? Are we going to feel the high temperatures? I just want to know what is going to happen to us.

Inside the big-bang machine

Jeanne Rutledge — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:52:10 GMT

What I'm wondering is if this "experiment" is going to be set for December 21, 2012???? Gee- I watched the TV program (advertisement)for this big bang wonderment; what looks to have cost a few billion-trillion (wonder who did the funding?) What really got me was when asked if this experiment to find the Helix? would have any bad effects, this young female physicist could not say a solid NO! The young man spokesman, was one of the best salesman I have ever seen in my life! I am all for understanding our Universe etc: and so on. But, when it comes to NOT knowing the consquences completly- I would say whoa! get your pens out and calculate a lot more before you jeopardize every living thing! What I see is alot of people wanting to get the Nobel prize. But, what good would it do if no-one is around to pat them on the back? This go for it attitude really stinks! I may sometimes think it would be great to do certain things, but I don't put others in the path of danger for my ego- who are these people anyway, who or what gives them the right to make these decisions? If people are afraid they have a right to be and moreover, those fanatics need to be brought to the table and checked out before it is to late. Why would we really need to duplicate a big bang-will it bring peace to our world-will it end starvation-will it heal the diseases-will it do anything that is worth all the uncertainty of just doing it?! I am just one person, one voice, and I don't have a good feeling about this at all. Just when I thought science was heading in the right direction it does a 360 and goes totally nuts! I did'nt hear one good thing that this experiment would-could produce! Just things of vast uncertainty. If it would even produce mini-black holes do we know for certain they would be dispersed-no. Would those containers really be able to contain a big-bang? who knows for sure-certain-without a doubt???? If one of those show people in charge can answer these questions logically- then I might listen, but still NOT want this experiment to go forth. They said this helix is like God's fingerprint-well, just why do we need God's fingerprint? Let it rest, let it continue to be mystery! I don't like the attitude of "well, if doesn't work we will all be blown away in a millisecond anyway" how stupid! Maybe your life is crappy, but even if I have bad days I would certainly love to stick around and watch my grand-babies, children and our planet actually make it out of the junk our scientists in the past have created. Just remember one thing, it isn't called the big bang for nothing sweetie! Listen, study up and be aware of what a few have in mind! Love and peace to all! This may sound trite, but don't be sucked into their black-hole!

Inside the big-bang machine

Denney, Westland, MI — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:07:12 GMT

Kinda scary and cool at the same time. This sounds like it could be used as some real life death ray. I hope them scientists don't make a mistake and blow up the whole world on accident. Like the some cheesy end of the world movie or something.

Inside the big-bang machine

Doug, Las Vegas, NV — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:59:32 GMT

Just wondering…. Is it possible to relocate this device so that the black hole is created just under the capital building? While congress is in session of course so it might suck the whole lot of em' into some alternate universe. Hmmm... there may be a good use for this pork barrel spending after all.

Inside the big-bang machine

sherri florida — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:35:06 GMT

i think somethings are meant to be left alone,thats whats wrong with this world today is man putting his business where it dont belong,that has gotten us trouble many of times and we never learn.

Inside the big-bang machine

Kris Opala Brooklyn, NY — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 05:17:47 GMT

Although I respect people's concerns over this project, they have to be aware of the amount of research and knowledge that these folks had to work with. These are specialists with access to knowledge and resources far beyond your university-grade instruction. The fear of a mini-black hole that can be created is ridiculous - if such a phenomenon occurs, keep in mind the comparison if its density and matter to that of it's surroundings - it will exist on a very miniscule scale.

Inside the big-bang machine

Dave — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:55:11 GMT

What time are they firing the thing up? I want to know If I need to feed my cat or not.

Inside the big-bang machine

Ignatius,Bournemouth,Dorset UK. — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:25:39 GMT

A black hole is stable and can only disintergrate at saturation point, i.e when it has absorbed enough matter to reach saturation point.after that it will supernova.blackholes big or small are hungry for matter and energy and will absorb anything around and grow.Lets hope the LHC experiment won't produce any blackholes because there are there to stay.

Inside the big-bang machine

Hana — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:06:48 GMT

jeez if this goes wrong I will find thepeople and kill them, I mean I'm just starting my GCSE's I have my whole life ahead of me! I am a little scared although My dad doesn't seem to think anything bad will hapeen and he is really into to science and stuff like that so I believe him and everyone else who says this won't go wrong!

Inside the big-bang machine

RF — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:46:55 GMT

If somethings happens.. Why try to beat the nature.. this is very riddicilous. Ive never seen such a mistake, So what if we find out what happened? There is still a RISK!

Inside the big-bang machine

Liam Bailey — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:29:22 GMT

Well, if something does happen then we won't know so what's the fuss?
I think that it's a good thing we want to find out how 'matter' and such other things were formed and started out, but do we really have to know because i feel half the world couldn't give a damn about how the world started and would rather live than know some clever things that they won't even understand. Would they really want to risk their lives for that? I don't think so

Inside the big-bang machine

Ronny Shorter Folkestonelol — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:32:20 GMT

if it fails i will be a millionaire because i put £1 on it failing, so i will be £50,000,000 to the better but what to do with it?
oh, i'll be dead in some black hole somewhere without my money... i just wasted £1

Inside the big-bang machine

Abigail May — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:12:12 GMT

Who knows what will come from this. Who knows what 'work' means from this. If work means creating black holes and new dimensions, who will know that it worked? No one, we'll all be dead, non existant. It is an impressive idea to prove that it was actually the big bang that created everything and all religious beliefs is nonsense. But I think there should be some things left in the world, some things to be kept a mystery. Lets just hope no one and nothing is harmed.

Inside the big-bang machine

Titch, Derbyshire, England — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:50:32 GMT

Or, we might all just die?
Chance of a Black Hole?
Perhaps that's a good enough excuse not to try this?
I don't even know what the point of this contraption is, I just heard "Black Hole" and ran for the hills...

Inside the big-bang machine

Danny Neely, Liverpool, UK — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:02:27 GMT

OK granted we may be able to prove theories such as the String one and they want to find another dimension or they want to see dark matter or w/e but man ffs, this thing does its job properly and it can create enoguh energy to make a mini blackhole no? and from what ive read blackholes grow and grow no? and if this thing goes wrong it can create a blakchole no? now i'm sorry, i may only be 16 but risking basically everything on this planet/in this universe to prove a "theory" is utter ridiculous no? <--- notice the NO pattern :/
so they basically want to recreate what made an ever expanding, radiation filled, infinite-sized and unstable universe... in metal bucket a mere 100m under France -.- even you boffins must admit , this aint guaranteed not to simply rip a in this universe and kill us all? Think about it, something so powerful that millions of years later it is still messing up... its not the best idea to do it again, 100m under rock when it can make enough energy to simply demolish.... EVERYTHING ... I am completely against this thing... messing with the unknown is a big mistake MARK MY WORDS!
The guy who said "what happens if i connect these 2 wires" or "what if this engine made things move" knew that what they were doing couldn't vaporise everyone and everything... but these guys know that there is this chance here... personally i would rather not know... "once everything is known and wonderment is gone, life is meaningless"
I am not Catholic, infact i am not religious in any sense of the word... but my God I am gonna be praying on Monday Night... i do hope these scientists get this thing right, i really do...

Inside the big-bang machine

keith, Palm Beach, FL — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:42:05 GMT

BUMP!

What I'm wondering is if this "experiment" is going to be set for December 21, 2012???? Gee- I watched the TV program (advertisement)for this big bang wonderment; what looks to have cost a few billion-trillion (wonder who did the funding?) What really got me was when asked if this experiment to find the Helix? would have any bad effects, this young female physicist could not say a solid NO! The young man spokesman, was one of the best salesman I have ever seen in my life! I am all for understanding our Universe etc: and so on. But, when it comes to NOT knowing the consquences completly- I would say whoa! get your pens out and calculate a lot more before you jeopardize every living thing! What I see is alot of people wanting to get the Nobel prize. But, what good would it do if no-one is around to pat them on the back? This go for it attitude really stinks! I may sometimes think it would be great to do certain things, but I don't put others in the path of danger for my ego- who are these people anyway, who or what gives them the right to make these decisions? If people are afraid they have a right to be and moreover, those fanatics need to be brought to the table and checked out before it is to late. Why would we really need to duplicate a big bang-will it bring peace to our world-will it end starvation-will it heal the diseases-will it do anything that is worth all the uncertainty of just doing it?! I am just one person, one voice, and I don't have a good feeling about this at all. Just when I thought science was heading in the right direction it does a 360 and goes totally nuts! I did'nt hear one good thing that this experiment would-could produce! Just things of vast uncertainty. If it would even produce mini-black holes do we know for certain they would be dispersed-no. Would those containers really be able to contain a big-bang? who knows for sure-certain-without a doubt???? If one of those show people in charge can answer these questions logically- then I might listen, but still NOT want this experiment to go forth. They said this helix is like God's fingerprint-well, just why do we need God's fingerprint? Let it rest, let it continue to be mystery! I don't like the attitude of "well, if doesn't work we will all be blown away in a millisecond anyway" how stupid! Maybe your life is crappy, but even if I have bad days I would certainly love to stick around and watch my grand-babies, children and our planet actually make it out of the junk our scientists in the past have created. Just remember one thing, it isn't called the big bang for nothing sweetie! Listen, study up and be aware of what a few have in mind! Love and peace to all! This may sound trite, but don't be sucked into their black-hole!

Inside the big-bang machine

grace, northampton, england — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:24:31 GMT

well if i'm dead by this time next week then i leave all of my worldly possessions to my dog.
or do they get blown up too?
D: aw mannn.

Inside the big-bang machine

Katherine 12 middlesbrough England — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:34:52 GMT

Im only 12 but i am curious what will happen if it all goes wrong i mean how do we know that it is 100 percent safe. mabie it can destroy the earth how can we be sure i dont think their is much point in it really
thx 4 reading

Inside the big-bang machine

Damien, England — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:40:21 GMT

well i just hope we haven't paid for this pointless experienment through our taxes.. wat a waste of money!

Inside the big-bang machine

chris houghton beechwood — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:48:58 GMT

i don't want this 2 happen because it could kill us and someone please stop it

Inside the big-bang machine

Melanie, Kent — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:28:04 GMT

people dont really understand this... I mean, come on, ther's a one in 50 million chance were going to die tommorow from this machine, but theres probably a 1 in A HUNDRED chance we die tommorow anyway, from walking infront of cars and so on. So why are people getting soo worked up? Any way, once the 2 seconds it takes are over, we will be able to find out so much more about scince, and why we are here... So its a good thing really. And believe me, coz although this may sound unbeleivable, i have actually been to that place in the photo above. Thats because i used to live in the area (town called gex) and we went there for a visit.
And to the person above, yes, all your possessions (and dog) will be non existant if this happens as a black hole would such up everything. Sorry. ! :)
And to Keith--- you obviously are not a positive person.... but even so, theres no need to write an essay about it!!

Inside the big-bang machine

Nick, Welwyn Garden City, England — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:13:17 GMT

I agree with Keith I think this is a bad idea.
I even have bad days but I don't want to die.
I love to stick around and get a girlfriend someday, have kids and watch them grow and watch their kids grow.
its like what Terminator said to John Connor in Terminator 2
John Connor: "We're not gonna make it, are we? People, I mean."
The Terminator: "It's in your nature to destroy yourselves."
John Connor: "Yeah. Major drag, huh?"
I never thought mankind would actually destroy themselves. Its a stupid Idea

Inside the big-bang machine

albert nottingham — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:53:15 GMT

this experiment will fail

Inside the big-bang machine

Jagannathan Chakravarthy — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:00:21 GMT

well.... i think its really not fair to keep the lives of billions of people at stake to find out something which has less inportance than our lives. i dont say that its worthless but if it fails..... then, no one will be here to comment about. i always support the technological advancements but they must not harm the civilians or keep their lives at stakes. so i think its high time that these cern guys should stop fiddling around with these gadgets. god is always a mystery and no one can solve .... nor science can. afterall, science is only a tool to know god.

Inside the big-bang machine

robbie — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:24:38 GMT

i think you lot have to much money to waste on this experiment world poverty is the issue we should be adressing then you can chase the stars after we have achieved this

Inside the big-bang machine

Maz, Birmingham, UK — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:18:36 GMT

I think people are getting worked up over nothing, we all have to die some day and if its like this then so be it. I agree that the money could of been put to better use i.e. cancer, aids, hiv, gun crime, poverty etc, but no one can stop this. We need to stop worrying and get over it, death is a part of life no matter how we go.

Inside the big-bang machine

HigherPower, Fairfield Ohio — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:46:14 GMT

Be at peace people who believe. if this thing is going to kill us all, or create an Armageddon event, its was meant to begin now anyway right? no i don't agree with this, people are stupid to mess with things they don't understand when the consequences can be so drastic. bottom line. but God wont let anything happen that isn't suppose to happen. the next place will be better than this one. see you all on the other side, yeah?

Inside the big-bang machine

Joe, Northampton, UK — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:52:38 GMT

Just like to take this opportunity to say "goodbye", and thanks for the 50yrs I have had,and whoever actually presses that button,,"I forgive you".... and as the words of some ancient prophet,,,"forgive them for they know not what they do"....nuff said.

Inside the big-bang machine

samantha scotland uk — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:58:36 GMT

i think somethings should just be left alone.
thats what is wrong with the world today.
man thinks it knows everything and we urn every good thing in to some thing bad.
take the guy who invented the microwave the americans have made a larger scale one and are using it on other people.
come on people just take time to think is it really worth the risk of killing billions of people to find out something that most of us dont even care about.

that money could have been spent on more useful thing.
we are always doing everything that is bad for us we are going to end up destroying the planet.

am only 17 but i know this is wrong its not worth the risk you's should really thing about the damage its going to casue if this experiment goes wrong..

Inside the big-bang machine

Janice, Atlanta, GA — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 02:54:26 GMT

What if it doesn't work the way they think it should and the procedure cause a worldwide catasrophe? What precautions are they taking for the safety of the world? This sounds crazy to me. We all maybe blown to smither reens.

Inside the big-bang machine

Laura, Chicago, IL — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 03:56:50 GMT

I understand the theories behind black holes. Now can someone explain how scientist know so much about them if they have not seen one or escaped through one? What is the difference between a small black hole and a big one? I think this is ridiculous.

Inside the big-bang machine

steve chippenham uk — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:53:45 GMT

this could be the beggining of the end as we know it,if things dont change then maybe they will stay as they are for just a while longer
either way we shall be driven by the unknown
or something like that

Inside the big-bang machine

Victoria N, Northern Ireland — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:48:03 GMT

woohoo were all still alive and the experiment was launched 2 hours ago!

Inside the big-bang machine

confussed — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:47:47 GMT

I dont really understand this all why is the first i have heard of this is the day they do it, would they not have to get permission to lets face it risk killing everything and anyone? No one was there when the big bang was created if it even was so how is anyone going to know if it worked? They say, if a "mini black hole occurs" it will be safe in the machine and contained as such, but the black hole will eat its container so dont look good does it.

Inside the big-bang machine

jesse, Adealdie, South Australia — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:51:52 GMT

I know its a good idea to figure the big question out, but what if it does go wrong...thats a pretty big mistake

Inside the big-bang machine

IBRAHIM — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:01:31 GMT

astagafurulAllah...Allahu akbar....Allahu akbar....Allahu akbar... do u these people actually think they can find out hw the universe started/made. u must b havin a laugh.ALL PRAISE BE TO ALLAH THE LORD OF WORLDS..

Inside the big-bang machine

Mike, Hull, U.K — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:04:39 GMT

This is the most stupid thing that i have ever come across, why build something which could in affect destroy the universe, it is putting the risk of billions and billions of people's life's. why spend £5billion on such a project. Your absoulty stupid with no common sense and care for people at all

Inside the big-bang machine

Adrian. South east london — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:02:25 GMT

I Fink this is some Bulls**t because it is all a waste of money. there is many people suffering around the world bu instead of helping them they would rather spend money on a silly experiment.

Inside the big-bang machine

Rachel, South Yorkshire. uk — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:15:00 GMT

I honestly think that this is too much power for the human race to deal with. who realy whants to know how the world was created. It a mistery something that shouldnt be tamped with...something that shouldnt be proved. its one of the un answerd questions that should stay un answerd.

As 'we' have spent all this time and money on a pointless experiment that may not work and cause more problems than its worth and the fact that we have just found out about this, because the government could not be bothed to inform us where the 200 million or so of our tax money has gone

This is the unknown that shouldnt be messed with as it too delicate. Who truly knows that this is 100% safe, it is not posable as no one knows this is a clear reason to why it should not carry on.

Yes i can understand new metals and 'things' may be descoverd but come on why is it s important to so educated about the universe. have an emagination.

Inside the big-bang machine

Ashutosh, Bangalore, Karnataka — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:31:34 GMT

After reading through above messages I can only comment that some people are born to think negative and have the tendency to interfere in other's work. Do they have no other work than criticizing what others are doing? World's best minds are working on this project and here we have people thinking about safety of the project. Do they think that scientists and researchers are doing this for fun? Do they think they are more knowledgeable than scientists working on this project? It appears that such people think that they have all the intelligence in them and others are just fools. Plz, plz, plz!!! let the scientists do their work, and you people better do yours. This world would be a much happier place to live in if we all mind our own work.

Inside the big-bang machine

rakesh paikara,raipur,chhatisgarh — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:03:52 GMT

Experiment is so amazing.this may help to open the secrets of universe.i hope experiment is not harmful to earth.

Inside the big-bang machine

cameron gordon — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:50:05 GMT

To me there is no point in building the machine just to find out where the universe came from what difference is it goin to make to our lives and plus it is risking our lives aswell.

Inside the big-bang machine

mark hanslip,bradford,west yorkshire england — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:16:49 GMT

i am very interested in phisics and beleive these experiments will be benificiant to all in time

Inside the big-bang machine

Jaime watervliet michigan — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:19:20 GMT

well im glad we are risking our world and lives? (sarcasim) But really i think they need to do a lot more research before just "seeing" whats going to happen. I think this is a bad idea

Inside the big-bang machine

Paul, England — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:12:53 GMT

This is a fantastic experiment and only the narrow minded could think otherwise, this could lead to so many other things in the future. a) next generation of world wide web, b) cures for diseases, c) plus prove all those religious people that we were not made by god!!!!!!

Inside the big-bang machine

Seattle — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:12:14 GMT

I agree wit most of the people on here...I have a very bad feeling about this experiment...as knowledgeable as these scientists may be. The thing that really creeps me out was this particular prediction that Nostradamus’had made: "Leave, leave Geneva every last one of you,
Saturn will be converted from gold to iron,
"Raypoz" will exterminate all who oppose him,
Before the coming the sky will show signs."- What are the odds that the experiment was actually held in Geneva. Scary if you ask me.

Inside the big-bang machine

Ethan, Falcon, CO — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:18:23 GMT

I think you should go over there, and talk to them about my idea, All atoms have an electric charge, so to shrink, or grow objects artificially, you concentrate an electric charge on the electrons and
protons, and to add neutrons, mix both charges. BYE!!

Inside the big-bang machine

Tony M Eastpointe, MI — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:36:36 GMT

I see brilliant minds spending so much time trying to the destory the earth and it atmosphere when there is so much here we need to improve on to keep the planet healthy.

Inside the big-bang machine

stuart. Kent — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:17:15 GMT

It is accepted in some circles that a greater technology existed milleniums ago and that there was some form of cataclysm.I wonder if this experiment has not been done before.

Inside the big-bang machine

Amanda Kaweski, Canada, Sask. — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:24:18 GMT

maybe they should just stop while there ahead unless they want to kill earth!!!!!! what is wrong with you guys can't you just leave it alone like we wern't created to find out how we were created. Its just stupid. Maybe the world will end in 2012 cause of all these stupid scientist that can't stop messing with life!!!!! makes me sooooooooo mad.

Inside the big-bang machine

joe blow — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:16:29 GMT

Playing with God = bad. 9 billion dollars give me a break. There is a 50/50 chance that this will cause the end of the universe. This thing sucks.

Inside the big-bang machine

Arren, London, England — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:26:00 GMT

listen either way no matter what people want to write on here this big bang project is still going ahead so jus leave it to the scientists to do what they are doing plus look on the bright side atleast the government told us what is happnin think about it if they never told us we would just be living our lives with yet another goverment secret =]

Inside the big-bang machine

Brock — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:04:41 GMT

Its a waste of time, cuz the big bang never happen and if it did there still has to be a creator of the world. The answer is God, God created the world. Man is so stupid in his selfish ways. Thats why man is never happy.

Inside the big-bang machine

Shuham, Jaipur, Rajasthan, india — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:14:16 GMT

I think this expermint can dammage the planet because it is very power full waves which is going to bumped to one another.

Inside the big-bang machine

Nickbob94@hotmail.com, Wakefield, England — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:42:24 GMT

"as a believer in 'In the beginning God' I find the recent discoveries concerning dark matter facinating and I cannot wait until this experiment proves what we've known all along, there had to be a designer, the first cause. "

This experiment proves nothing of the sort. There is NO proof that there had to be a designer. If there had to be a designer, the designer must have been designed also, and that one, and that one. It never ends. That arguement is stupid.

Inside the big-bang machine

kishore hyderabad, india — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:56:29 GMT

yah what a great experiment it is?really i surprised i when i heard the news.really my hole heartly i am wishing the persons who r doing the experiment.

Inside the big-bang machine

sayana, delhi, india — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:24:03 GMT

this piece of articles in space experiments till date is quite good. i must agree when i finish studying and become an astronomer i will get something great done like this.
sayana,age 10,delhi, india

Inside the big-bang machine

Andrew, Malaysia — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:29:47 GMT

Agree with Abigail, some things are better left as a mystery. We could not defy nature. One mistake and we're finished.

Inside the big-bang machine

pushimishi — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:21:11 GMT

hm somehow it is bulding for a long time, but .. no clear informance. what will happend if...?? a lot of questios and only few not clear answers, somehow it seems ..strange, unstable..

Inside the big-bang machine

CLockess — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:34:30 GMT

I agree what do you think you can do recreate the universe and then make life good luck there. You know someone is going to be hurt by this.

Inside the big-bang machine

Sandeep, Karnataka India — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 06:09:36 GMT

we cant create our nature. there is no permission from nature to do these things. I agree science proved lots of things with that science created some disadvantages. if this experiment is not creating any problem to nature then fine otherwise its wrong.

Inside the big-bang machine

dr. mokashi — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:03:25 GMT

this thing will melt the planet away (100,000 times hottter than the suns core) those scientist aren't as smart as they say

Inside the big-bang machine

Lizzie Parkington, Indianapolis, Indiana — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:02:14 GMT

look i know scientists want to find out about the big bang and how the universe was created but they dont need to be doing something thats dangerous!Honestly i think its safer to go on the word of the bible on how the world was created but me, i dont think they'd wanna jeprodize there own lives.

Inside the big-bang machine

somebody victoria bc — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:24:57 GMT

this is pure scientific madness. experiments this big should not be fooled with.

Inside the big-bang machine

Angwang Martin Bamenda, Nortn West province, Cameroon, West Africa — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:13:49 GMT

I am well versed about the Big Bang theory, but I have always stated from my accurate knowledge about the explanation, origin and cobnsequence of the Big bang that the present means of research wuill never yield a completely true picture of what happened actually. This experiemtn, as unprecedented as it is will not solve the question at stake because of the wrong rocedure. There was a big bang, yes and it siggnalleed the beginning of the Cosmos, but scintists do not know why it happened, what was there before and the consequence on the nature of the Universe today. If they knew answeres to these questions( which are quiet simple and clear) then, all endeaviours today to explain and justify the big bang and the origin of the Universe would be much easier. The whole truth is always there, but like I said, the method is much too limited.

Inside the big-bang machine

Anne Jay, Trail, Washington — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:11:23 GMT

I would just like to say that this is the worst idea that humans have had so far! FORGET GLOBAL WARMING LETS JUST RUIN THE WORLD WITH THE "RECREATION" OF THE BIG BANG! WHILE WERE AT IT WHY DON'T WE CREATE A GIANT BLACK HOLE THAT WILL SUCK US ALL UP AND KILL ALL HUMANITY! and lets use the peoples monney to do it too! that will really shake things up!This is a ridiculous invention and i hope it fails!

Inside the big-bang machine

philip o,connor chester england — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:12:54 GMT

Stop this madness now or we will all be sucked into a portal leading to a parallel universe

Inside the big-bang machine

john doe nowhere, us — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:21:43 GMT

this was a pointless waste of money we should have spent the money on ssomthing more importana than proving the big bang theory.

Inside the big-bang machine

liam hewson — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:13:57 GMT

im only 13 but i have a question its not really about this though anyway i was wondering is the world really ending on december 12 2012 please answer thi because im quite scared

Inside the big-bang machine

amy north england — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:15:12 GMT

black holes are only made if a star dies trust me i have it on tape do you realy think that they would put all this money in to it if the world was going to end dont think so so dont beleive the peson who said that we might die because they are talking rubish it is just a little explosion and the sbstance that they are useing is week the force in space is mutch stronger no human can make a black hole! the particles are realy tiny you would have to magnophy them to see them thats how tiny they are so do you realy think that that would create a black hole no dont think so

Inside the big-bang machine

Zack Smathers, Ashville, North Carolina — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:55:16 GMT

I for one am extremely exited about the outcome of this project. Although I am still quite ignorant to the knowledge of what it is going to do, I have always been quite intriuged about the big bang theory, as well as most other science in the wide universe. And, again, I remain arrogant to the facts, but I can't help wondering why they decided not to continue the first attempt to create this project in texas after spending so much money on it. However I am sure there is some rational explination so I'll leave false and childish accusations out. But I must admit, I am slightly pessemistic about this one. As far as I konw, because I, unfortunately, was not gifted the patience to read some passage longer then half a page long, they have already spent, what, around 21 million dollars repairing some, for want of a better term, glitches. Perhaps someone can give me greater details about this so I will no longer have to worry and fool myself with doubt, otherwise I repeat myself when I say I am exstatic about what we will gain from this.

Inside the big-bang machine

Zack Smathers, Ashville, North Carolina — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:05:22 GMT

And I agree with you amy. If this does not go exactly the way they wont and a black hole is created on earth, even though I have already confessed my blindness to the complete knowing of this matter, I must also confess I believe my intelligence is 'just enough' to believe any black hole created would either be microscopic or nearly nonexistant. I can only confirm this because, until two weeks from now, I am still currently in earth science, and the expertise of my knowledge in this category primarily revolves around things such as star lives, which, as you will know, includes the death of a super red giant, and, having that said, I will respectevly confirm, for anyone who may still be in doubt, that black holes are only created when a star dies, the components, or for better term, chemical composition, collapses upon itself in a split second, creating such black hole. Thank g for sending us the people who can also confirm that no star in our universe is near old enough to go into such a stage for another 40billion years or so, so they say.

Inside the big-bang machine

Paul — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:30:05 GMT

Real discussion of these issues are currently happening at http://www.scientificconcerns.com

Of the more interesting is the one about the new model that might explain everything from dark matter to supermassive black holes AND danger at LHC. That discussion is on the thread http://www.scientificconcerns.com/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=776

Inside the big-bang machine

alex lightfoot belfast N.ireland — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:34:42 GMT

i am thrilled about this project but has it not been said there is a very big risk
it is said that it creates minature blackholes as far as i have learned about this project they dont know if this minature blackhole will expand or burn out

i am just really concerned about the risk and im sure im not the only one who is concerned

Inside the big-bang machine

Mitch Yadkinville, NC — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:50:54 GMT

I can not believe all the "the sky is falling" people commenting above me... Scientist have said time and time again that these black holes are very small and will only last for less than a millisecond before dissolving... I believe this LHC will answer questions about the birth of our universe that a lot of people will not accept for many years...
^..^