Unlocking the mysteries of the universe
JESSE COOPER Clarion Opinion Editor
Issue date: 9/24/08 Section: News
In a 17-mile tunnel beneath the outskirts of Geneva, Switzerland, the world's most powerful particle accelerator began its operations on Wednesday, September 10th. Capable of unlocking the evidence to key theories about the nature and makeup of the very universe itself, its success will usher in a new era of scientific discovery nearly 15 years in the making.
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) project involves thousands of engineers and scientists from around the world, a global collaboration of scientific investigation.
Scientific curiosity has again led to what could be the greatest achievement of the century, and the University of Wisconsin - Madison has played a big role in the project.
The LHC is a device that takes beams of protons and accelerates them to near light speed and orchestrates a controlled collision. The hypothesis is that the collision will unlock exotic atomic particles, super-symmetric particles, the proof of the Higgs boson (also known as the "God" particle), and other unknown phenomenon that will provide pieces to the puzzles of dark matter, the origins of mass, and perhaps even the existence of other space dimensions. Proving many of the current theories surrounding particle physics depend on this project as it will provide the massive amount of energy needed to expose the very elements of nature and hopefully either prove or disprove current theory.
Concerns have been voiced in opposition to the project. Some go so far as to fear the end of the world through the creation of a mini black hole. What chaos will ensue if the extremely high-energy collision of nature's building blocks goes terribly awry? Experts offer assurance that the concerns are not legitimate. However, what will happen if we create something we cannot stop? By beginning the accelerator with low speed test laps, the team is taking precautions to ensure that the particles can be sustained within the tunnel and guarantee that the revolutionary
device is working properly. Experts maintain that every step to confirm the safety of this project will be taken in a responsible manner.
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) project involves thousands of engineers and scientists from around the world, a global collaboration of scientific investigation.
Scientific curiosity has again led to what could be the greatest achievement of the century, and the University of Wisconsin - Madison has played a big role in the project.
The LHC is a device that takes beams of protons and accelerates them to near light speed and orchestrates a controlled collision. The hypothesis is that the collision will unlock exotic atomic particles, super-symmetric particles, the proof of the Higgs boson (also known as the "God" particle), and other unknown phenomenon that will provide pieces to the puzzles of dark matter, the origins of mass, and perhaps even the existence of other space dimensions. Proving many of the current theories surrounding particle physics depend on this project as it will provide the massive amount of energy needed to expose the very elements of nature and hopefully either prove or disprove current theory.
Concerns have been voiced in opposition to the project. Some go so far as to fear the end of the world through the creation of a mini black hole. What chaos will ensue if the extremely high-energy collision of nature's building blocks goes terribly awry? Experts offer assurance that the concerns are not legitimate. However, what will happen if we create something we cannot stop? By beginning the accelerator with low speed test laps, the team is taking precautions to ensure that the particles can be sustained within the tunnel and guarantee that the revolutionary
device is working properly. Experts maintain that every step to confirm the safety of this project will be taken in a responsible manner.
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