They have successfully collided particles at 13 TeV.
http://home.web.cern.ch/about/updates/2015/05/first-images-collisions-13-tev
http://home.web.cern.ch/about/updates/2015/05/first-images-collisions-13-tev
CERN has reached a new milestone.
- Thread starter greasytshirt
- Start date
A teraelectronvolt is just a snotload of voltage (electrical pressure, akin to water pressure out of a pipe). 13 teraelectronvolts is about twice the previous record, and is what is needed to keep stray particles from destroying the collider itself. They're smashing protons together to see what smaller particles break off, to see what protons are made of. Protons, electrons and neutrons make up all matter. The quarks, fermions, bosons, and other little bits is what makes up the protons, electrons and neutrons. To find out what quarks are made of, it takes a tremendous amount of energy to smash them apart. Certain scientific theories make certain predictions, and if the predictions are found to be false, then the theory must be adapted or disguarded.
One of the theories of particle physics was that a certain type of particle must exist, to explain why observed particles act the way they do. High energy collisions in the LHC confirmed the existence of this particle, the Higgs-Boson Particle. Higher energies are required to confirm the predictions of other theories.
These theories make predictions that, for example, will further confirm (or refute) the Big Bang Theory, and they make predictions about the quantum mechanics of how computers work, which could result in computers being able to read, process and store data on a quantum level. In addition, if these elementary particles can be understood and harnessed, then utilizing the energy stored in an atomic bomb would be as safe and easy as plopping a AA battery into a flashlight.
They're isn't likely to be any major immediate real world revelations from this latest step in data discovery, but it's one pretty big step in the world of physics one that could lead to any number of things we can't get even imagine. In mean, who would have thought back in 1936 when a mathematical prediction of quantum physics about the effect of magnetization on the mobility of charge carriers in solids, as being related to the spin of those carriers, would lead directly to invention of long-distance quantum data encryption using atoms of the rare-earth element europium embedded in yttrium orthosilicate crystals, creating a storage device capable of holding quantum state information for up to six hours at a time (instead of the milliseconds in which quantum state matter usually exists). They did that a couple of months ago.
Understanding the data they may get from the current LHC experiments could boost that from 6 hours to infinite time periods, not to mention being used for technologies we haven't yet conceived.
One of the theories of particle physics was that a certain type of particle must exist, to explain why observed particles act the way they do. High energy collisions in the LHC confirmed the existence of this particle, the Higgs-Boson Particle. Higher energies are required to confirm the predictions of other theories.
These theories make predictions that, for example, will further confirm (or refute) the Big Bang Theory, and they make predictions about the quantum mechanics of how computers work, which could result in computers being able to read, process and store data on a quantum level. In addition, if these elementary particles can be understood and harnessed, then utilizing the energy stored in an atomic bomb would be as safe and easy as plopping a AA battery into a flashlight.
They're isn't likely to be any major immediate real world revelations from this latest step in data discovery, but it's one pretty big step in the world of physics one that could lead to any number of things we can't get even imagine. In mean, who would have thought back in 1936 when a mathematical prediction of quantum physics about the effect of magnetization on the mobility of charge carriers in solids, as being related to the spin of those carriers, would lead directly to invention of long-distance quantum data encryption using atoms of the rare-earth element europium embedded in yttrium orthosilicate crystals, creating a storage device capable of holding quantum state information for up to six hours at a time (instead of the milliseconds in which quantum state matter usually exists). They did that a couple of months ago.
Understanding the data they may get from the current LHC experiments could boost that from 6 hours to infinite time periods, not to mention being used for technologies we haven't yet conceived.
Around 200 years ago, electricity and magnetism were seen as a circus act, a toy that was entertaining but with no practical application.
That assumption was incorrect.
In the same vein, purely theoretical particle physics may appear to have no practical use and is a waste of time and money (or an attempt to disprove the existence if a creator being), but time and time again this attitude has proven to be extremely shortsided.
From a capitalist point of view, it makes no sense to chase this idea for 60 years without any guarantee of success. But from a scientific standpoint, one must never stop the search for knowledge. They've been pursuing this for 60 years, and they were successful in proving their hypothesis.
CERN developed the protocol that gave us the internet. Arguably in the top 5 most important human inventions. They did this as a step in the development of the LHC. What other huge inventions will they develop? If their efforts are unhindered, we'll find out.
And ironically, it was the shortsightedness and unwillingness of American to fund the LHC that caused it to be built elsewhere.
http://www.texasmonthly.com/story/how-texas-lost-worlds-largest-super-collider
http://www.texasmonthly.com/story/how-texas-lost-worlds-largest-super-collider
Ok, my head just exploded. I like this sub atomic stuff, but really enjoy stars and planets . Our solar system has an orbit in the Milky Way galaxy. It's traveling at about 700,000 MPH and takes 250 million yrs to complete.
If you shrunk the Milky Way Galaxy down to the size of Asia, our solar system would be the size of a dime. Things that keep me believing in a higher power.
If you shrunk the Milky Way Galaxy down to the size of Asia, our solar system would be the size of a dime. Things that keep me believing in a higher power.
And none of this knowledge would be possible without the Scientific Method.
I'm not bagging on religious beliefs here, I'm just giving credit where it's due.
A monumental cock-up.
NASA is one government entity that actually produces useful things, and what happens? We repeatedly cut their budget.
Pure research always looks like a waste of time for the shortsighted, but it looks like an important investment for those who look further ahead.
mrgoodtude
Not a Member
In 2010 it cost roughly $20 billion to provide air conditioning inside the temporary tents and housing in Iraq and Afghanistan. The high cost is mostly due to the fuel used to power the air conditioners, and the trucks that bring the fuel. It doesn't include the cost of blown-up trucks from IEDs, nor the 1000 soldiers who died in those explosions delivering the fuel.
NASA's 2010 budget? $19 billion.
Amount of money Americans spend annually on pizza - $27 billion.
For every $1 NASA spends, $10 is returned to the economy. Since 1976 there have been 1400 NASA inventions that wound up as products or services, such as kidney dialysis machines, CAT scanners, MRI machines, freeze-dried food, and the reflective window coverings on my Sprinter (that insulate the ISS, satellites and the Mars Rovers).
NASA's 2010 budget? $19 billion.
Amount of money Americans spend annually on pizza - $27 billion.
For every $1 NASA spends, $10 is returned to the economy. Since 1976 there have been 1400 NASA inventions that wound up as products or services, such as kidney dialysis machines, CAT scanners, MRI machines, freeze-dried food, and the reflective window coverings on my Sprinter (that insulate the ISS, satellites and the Mars Rovers).
Science is amazing, in that the failures are as educational as the successes. and everything, no matter how inconsequential it may seem, serves as a block for building upon.
I only wish cities would honor their budding science stars at least as much as the silly "achievements" they trumpet, like "Home of American Idol [fill in the name, cause I have no idea]" How about pep rallies before major science competitions? Selling tickets to watch, because creativity rocks!
Crazy priorities, our schools have.
I only wish cities would honor their budding science stars at least as much as the silly "achievements" they trumpet, like "Home of American Idol [fill in the name, cause I have no idea]" How about pep rallies before major science competitions? Selling tickets to watch, because creativity rocks!
Crazy priorities, our schools have.