The day we all die: September 10, 2008
Ask not...: It tolls for thee, bro, it tolls for thee.Courtesy carl.jonesJust messin’, y’all!
Only some of us will die on September 10th! And that’s only because we were going to die anyway. There will be sudden heart attacks, tragic car accidents, hilarious full-body prolapses, and possibly some mysterious cases of spontaneous combustion, and none of that will have anything to do with the Large Hadron Collider turning on on the tenth of September.
That’s right, everyone, you can stop holding your breath, and start crossing your fingers, because the LHC now has a date for its first proton collision.
Some people have raised concerns that turning on the LHC could lead to the destruction of the earth in one of several very sciencey ways. Other people have shouted down these jokers, however, because they are very, very, very probably wrong.
And if the world doesn’t end, well, we’ll probably learn all sorts of rad things about the nature of the universe. We might even get some visitors from the future. But I might put a larger bet on the destruction of the solar system (but, you know, fingers crossed).
So, Buzzketeers, on September 10, do your best to protect yourself from the everyday dangers of existence. Wrap your head in packing foam, fill your tummy with starch-based peanuts, and keep yourself wet and/or naked to prevent sparks catching in your clothing and hair, because you probably won’t want to miss what’s coming out of the LHC.
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Is this the one located in Texas where they are going to collide an unmovable atom with an unstoppable atom?
Jazznell, I like the way you think. But I'm pretty sure the unmovable object and unstoppable object still only exist as, you know, metaphysical concepts.
Nope, the LHC is located hundreds of feet beneath the border between France and Switzerland. It's a giant ring-shaped track (17 miles around) for tiny particles. It looks like they were going to build an even bigger supercollider in Texas, called the Superconducting Super Collider (good name), with a circumference of 54 miles! Unfortunately the SSC was canceled in 1993.
At the LHC, though, they want to run beams of protons (remember, atoms are made of protons, neutrons, and electrons) around the track, until some of them smash into each other and break apart into even smaller particles. Exactly what comes out of these collisions, and how it behaves, will hopefully teach us more about the most basic elements of existence.
Or it will end the world.
But probably not.
No. this is not the perfect location. the perfect location is my home place so that we can see their experiment.
I found this post interesting... In your first paragraph you said that some of us may die in tragic car accidents...
On September 10, 2008 I was nearly killed in a very brutal car accident. I'm searching for articles that may still be online and found this post. :)
Just had to say :)
Interesting! Fortunately, it looks like I was wrong.
"because they are very, very, very probably wrong."
Wow, you are an idiot. The fact there is a possibility is the reason people are outspoken and against it. And yet you call them jokers in a mocking fashion while at the same time admitting their claims have validity.
Who is the real joker?
Oh, God, the real joker is me, isn't it? Isn't it? Aaaaahh! Aaaaah!
I never should have picked a word as harsh as "joker," because now it's come back to slap me in the face! I'm the joker! I'm the joker! It's like a gun that shoots backwards!
It's true—there may be some possibility that the LHC, or any supercollider I suppose, could kick off a catastrophic chain reaction by creating an awful little particle like a strangelet or a micro-black hole.
There's also some possibility that I could win the powerball jackpot 7 times in a row. Or that I will find a dragon egg. In my bed.
The thing is, the people who would know best whether or not a supercollider is at all likely to start the apocalypse—they're they people working on the collider. And they point out the at the sort of collisions that they hope to observe in the LHC are happening all the time in space around earth, and so far earth has been okay.
There are websites, though, that go into concerns regarding the operation of the LHC. Like this one. Or Wikipedia's page on the LHC's safety. Check it out.
All those "very"s—they were just meant to indicate how very, very, very small the probability is that the LHC will do something so bad.
But I will never, ever call someone a joker in a mocking fashion again. At least, it's very, very, very unlikely that I will.
obiously U. they were trying to save us.
i guess that was wrong!
That scared me. I read on and then it made sense. What does it mean by destrooyers of the earth
There's a link under the phrase "destruction of the earth," but what's referred too, generally, is the chance that the LHC could create some tiny, but very very dangerous particles—stuff that could destroy the planet. But that's probably not going to happen.
If the turning on of the LHC does create particles of unknown 'stuff' (Higgs Boson, dark matter - whatever), it could be a huge leap forward for mankind. How about perpetual free energy? Time travel? Teleportation? The LHC does not get up to operating power until October 21st, so that could be the new date for the end of the universe.
Will it be a black hole that swallows us up? Or aliens that destroy the earth to stop mankind releasing untold destruction? Or (my personal favourite) we are sucked down a space and time continuum hole, like that episode in 'The Simpsons'?
Either way it could be time max out your credit cards - just in case. If time travel is made possible, just go back.
ok so ive read alot about this and im still really freaked out....... Olly said something about the machine not reachin full power till october 21st???? so doest that mean that the machine will be left on for like a month???? thats crazy! im totally confuzed :S all i can say is im plannin to have a kid and get married so nothin better happen....too much stress right now :(
im totaly with u on that whole september 10th thing... hopefully that stupid thing doesnt work cuz like u i plan to have a kid or 2 and get married theres a bunch of things i havnt doen i dnt want to die just yet and if i have to die i want God to decide how and when i die not by a stupid collider thing....why would they even make that its stupid...well i heard that if it works its gonna start a blackhole which while either suck in switserland or the whole earth..well i dnt know about u but im gonna pray i dnt want to die..
Kind of silly really, on two accounts. Firstly: people are all saying we're going to die, yet those who do know things, people who are working on it, say we're not. The reply to that is 'of course they'll cover it up': really? if you were building a machine that would destroy everything, you'd cover it up, for a job that wouldnt really matter anyway? Smart.
Secondly, people believing it will kill us all. Last time i checked, a black hole takes power that sends ripples across space for millions of lightyears. If mankind can really build something like that, it wouldnt be in switzerland, built by Americans, or be allowed.
Okay, lets briefly go on the assumption the power created is going to annihalate civilisation. That power wont be created instantly, anyway; if nature can't create it immediately, mankind cant. We can't even create a tsunami or earthquake- lightweights! And when they turn it on, the energy created within a few hours is more than likely enough to tell them whether it will eventually create enough to create a black hole or not; and, if not, goodo', we get to live till we die anyway; if it does, at least we get to prepare for it properly, anyway! So really it's a lose situation whatever happens. Or a win situation. Really, view it however.
And lets face it, the more likely path is that some power-crazed war monger *cough* George Bush *cough* is going to adopt it to destroy his competitors *cough* Obama *cough* and become the ruler of the Universe for that brief few seconds of existance.
After all my cynicism about this destruction, i'm still going to put off doing my Language essay till Thursday.
im really scared.
we'll not die coz jesus with us.
but we wants to know about the black whole will it appear or not if it appears then what will its effect on earth pls . graduate us about this
from
AJAY & RAHUL
who the heck gives scientists the right to make decisions which could affect everyone living on the planet. i guess the ordinary citizens of the planet dont mean anything in the face of science. i am worried about wednesday.
Hey,
I just watched "the core" movie. It's gonna be exactly like that. So we'll be saved at last!
Cheers!
Internet nerds get a life, the world is not at an end, what happend on 1/1/2000 nothing.
Its geeks that want attention.
I hope you're referring to me when you write "geeks that want attention," because that is entirely accurate.
The issue is, perhaps, receiving attention primarily because people love to worry and get each other worried about stuff. But I don't know that the folks who initially raised the possibility of danger from the LHC are "Internet nerds" doing it for recognition—even if their concerns are misplaced, their hearts probably aren't. If you follow me.
well ummmm y2k actually was 01, 01, 2001. 1/1/1 was the beginning of CE so if you add 2,000 to that it would come out to 2,001... yaaa those geeks were a year early.
im scared
no what everyones saying at my school is that there is like a 1 in 5million chance that it will happen and if it does it will take 4 years to swallow us up
and even if there is the slight chance of us all dying they shouldnt go through with it so
i dont think i would want to give my life to these scientists even for a 1 in 5 million chance and
if it is true and we then have 4 years to live everyones gunna go wild and that would be hell.............................
quite scared tbh !
the fact that there is a possibility any of this could happen should stop them from doing this.
however, if all goes to plan and we find out unknown information reguarding how the universe began etc, then it will have been worth it.
I'll have my fingers crossed anyway !
nothin's gonna happen ppl...just relax and enjoy the rest of your life.even if that is 4 years...cheers!
Lies.
my friend told me in school that we have a 50% chance of living. But you seem to know more about this, so I'll take your word for whatever you have to say. However, I am concerned about if I will live or die tomorrow. So is there a higher probability of us living or dying?
Hhhmm 4 years is going to be 2012! If you know anything about 2012 this going to be a knock to the skull.
They definately SHOULD NOT go through with this experiement
I come from the future...i am here to warn you to be ready for what is going to happen...you'll all die because of the failure of this experiment! pffffffff c'mon every1 let's be serious...nothing bad can come of this.at the end of it we'll probably have found out more about what surrounds us and who knows..if we're lucky we might even get to visit the past! I heard that the LHC could even be used as a time machine! Wouldn't that b awesome???
Wait a min... From what Ive read they are just going to fire a beam on Sept. 10th. The actual collisions wont start until mid-late October. Can anyone else confirm this you still cant trust the internet! >.<
All I have to say is that I hope nothing happens.
But, if the news comes on telling us we are going to die because a black hole was created, I will be laughing at those dumb scientists who risked their and our's lifes for this useless peice of expensive junk.
I am still very young, and haven't had the chance to follow my dreams. And if I die, (and other younglings), I hope those scientists realize that they ruined our futures.
Good luck to us, and to the machine.
Its amazing how not many people actually know the facts about this experiment or really if it is true. Hey, my 16 year old son told me this. I have actually been investigating this through media as well as conversations with people who have actually a little bit of interest in this highly, covered up and controversial experiment. Let me say one thing," what gives anyone the right to make a decision to what may or may not happen to humanity for the sake of science if there is any POSSIBILITY of a catastrophic outcome....
Well, lets just spend a little extra time and think about that. Life is precious and always comes with a price...KNOWLEDGE...
So hug your kids, your pets. Smile at your neighbours and enjoy your freedom that was given to u...or is it really freedom.
GOD BLESS...
If something was going to destroy the planet, don't you think the reptilians would have come down already, to reap the valuable elements of our planet before it went to waste?
i hope we dont die
and everyone stop holding your breath
there is no acctual answer that we are going to die
but it is leaning at a no
because the black hole is recovering
every second
This whole thing is crazy. We survived wednesday but now we have to waitt ill october 21st when the collision happens. I dont beleive anything will happen but its that tiny chance that something could happen that worries me.
BUT if there really was a high chance we were gonna die then they wouldnt be allowed to start it up.
AND the second thing, if it was to kill us all then putting this whole experiment together would have been a waste of time because the scientits would die aswell and never fnd out the information they wanted to.
be worned we are all going to die tonite at about 10:30
Well, according to this paper, at least, the world did not end. We are still trying to secure independent verification.
What about the people that are living ahead of time from us? I mean, some people are already in other time zones, some possibly even in the 11th already, and the machine is in switzerland. So swiss people say "the world will end on the 10th at "x" time" then they "die" at that time. Then the world keeps going for the people who are yet to reach the time the swiss people died?
Lol XD
I'm really scared, but TBH I don't think that its actually going to happen.
Well, if it does, sweet dreams ya'll XDXD
well...i sure dont get this....lets just hope eveything stays the way it is ....and also , i heard from a news channel , that, its results gona cum after 4-5 months,and not now...so, if, u really wana worry.u can wait till feb or march 2009....^_^
Thank you, fifth last Anonymous. I just turned thirteen and was planning on becoming a singer and I had already started my dream that was too big for words: Becoming a famous author. All the teachers that I told about it and showed it to thought it was a great idea, and I DON'T WANT TO DIE UNTIL I'VE FINISHED IT! I also had a dream of growing up and getting married and having kids, and now I might not. If we all die, I hope I see you all up in heaven. Oh, and 1 last note: I HATE these scientists.
I think... that we're all still alive? I'll have to call someone in Europe to make sure. But things are looking good.
So best of luck with the singing/writing career. Nothing stands in your way now.
According to USA Today, the tests has been completed succussfully and we're all still alive.
And here's a link to an interactive graphic about what's goind on in that collider.
Speak for yourself, Thor.
Omg I was going to flip everyone beleived this stupidness about the world ending it was crazy people in my school were crying and hugging everyone goodbye but i knew it wasnt going to end!
Well, you can put a stop to all that hugging.
It concerns me that people can be so relaxed now that the machine has been turned on. the plan was just to test the machine today with will just make sure its working.they are gonna increase the power slowly and start collisions in a few weeks possible months depending on how future tests go. i personally am very concerned as to what the collisions will cause. however i am no scientist. it is human nature to worry about something you no nothing about. after reading about all the concerns and CERN's answers to them i feel a little reasurred however not completely. i am still worried that there is a possible chance that something bad could happen. is it worth it for even the smallest of chances. yes if it goesd successfully we may find some very exciting information however if something were to go wrong it would have been a waste of time anyway.
i am all for science experiments and trying to investigate the unknown however i dont feel that these tests should be done unless there is no chance of harming us.
my biggest complaint is that us as human beings have fought for freedom of speech, and equal oppertunities however there was no public vote for these tests, no public explanations to explain to those who dont know what is going on what will happen and what is trying to be achieved. worst of all those people in countries that have no water let alone televisions and radios do not even know this is happening how is that fair, they dont even have a chance to speak out.
i am also greatly concerned for others who are young like myself, who have little knowledge of scientific facts. young children have access to tv and now have heard things that will scare them and unsettle them as it is impossible for them to understand. i feel for these children as it turns my stomach and makes me panic deeply. i am still in need of reassurance and will now live the next few months in fear as i dont know what else to think. this is unfair and unjust, we should not be subject to the suffering caused by not knowing what is going on and only being able to access information that is on the internet, and not knowing , as the internet isnt trust worthy, whether the information we are reading is true.
fear is the worst feelin in the world and i dont think it should have been forced upon those of us who havent had access to indepth information in plain english not in scientific jargon that i and many others cant understand as i am only 18 years old
Operating this machine has an infinitely small chance of hurting humanity, and a will probably end up doing us a lot of good, but people are so concerned about it.
There are some other things, like any one of the armed conflicts in the world, that people are pretty comfortable with, even though they have a 100% percent chance of ending the world for a lot of people.
Also, the cost of the new collider is about 6 billion dollars. The cost of Iraq war II (so far) has been about 845 billion dollars.
It seems like our psychological priorities are all mixed up.
you guys are so crazyy you dont know when the world will end!!!!!
I don't get it. I thought Science Buzz was supposed to be about science.
Dude! This whole thing is about science! We aren't talking about the wrath of God, we're talking about paranoia associated with one of the biggest scientific experiments in human history! Black holes! Theoretical particles! The fundamental forces of the universe!
Aaah! Just read it!
so did it end at all? I mean i'm not sure. I can still feel being alive, but you never know! Seen Matrix, eh?
Talking about paranoia, does anyone know about the whole 2012 thing? what is the legit science behind that? is there even science behind that? if it is science-legit will someone please share more in a post with us all.
it's supposed the Myan calendar (said to be the first in the world) ends on December 21,. 2012. these people have 7calendars running at a time and 12/21/12 is the last date of the last calendar
Folks have already talked about the 2012 thing here, so I won't get into it too much, but yeah, it's the end of one of the Mayan calendars. It's what's called the "long count calendar."
However, most anthropologists understand the end of the calendar to be the beginning of a new cycle, not the end of the world. The Mayans themselves didn't even seem to think that 2012 was the end of the world—ancient Mayans made and recorded predictions for dates beyond the end of the long count calendar.
thank you, I thought so too. I was just wondering if it had any scientific reasoning behind it. I see now it's just another over-dramatized human related concept of time-issue.
But then again no one can ever tell whats going to happen in the future...so anything can happen, heheh, might even happen before 2012.
Actually - - This is a warning for September 9-10, 2009.
The Hadron collider died and needs to be resurrected.
9-9-9 time.
Phew. And here I was, worried that I was going to live forever.
Check it out: the LHC is inspiring inventiveness all over the world. Inventive excuses, but still...
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