The Large Hadron Collider was tested this weekend and a black hole hasn’t destroyed the Earth…yet

It’s not a start-up per se, nor is it a web company, but the Large Hadron Collider is damn cool — and important. It was fired up this weekend for its first ever test, and despite fears of the world ending due to the device, that hasn’t happened yet.

The Large Hadron Collider (or LHC) is a particle accelerator built by CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. With a 17 mile circumference, it’s the world’s largest and most powerful accelerator. Scientists hope that using it to create environments similar to those found near the time that the Big Bang occurred, they will be able to unlock new secrets of our universe.

What kind of secrets? Oh, just some minor details not yet known to science, such as how elemental particles obtain mass.

The science blog Cosmic Variance has a great rundown of what the LHC could find. At the top of this list is the Higgs boson, which is the only particle in the Standard Model (the theory that describes the fundamental interactions between the particles that make up all matter), that hasn’t yet been detected. The site thinks there is a 95 percent chance the LHC finds this particle, and that could lead to a much better understanding of how our universe works.

Other notable possibilities on Cosmic Variance’s list include finding extra dimensions (these could be so-called “warped” hidden dimensions or a large dimension we have not yet detected), evidence for or against String Theory (perhaps the most popular “theory of everything” in recent times), dark matter (the matter that theoretically makes up most of the Universe but we can’t see it), dark energy (invisible like dark matter, but theoretically making up some 70 percent of the universe — much more than matter), and a bunch of sub-atomic particles that you’ve probably never heard of and I won’t go into.

One reason the LHC has gotten a lot of press recently is that word started to get around that it was technically possible that when the device turned on for the first time, it could create miniature black holes. You hear the word “black hole” and you immediately think end of the world, but any black hole the LHC could create would likely be so small and destroy itself instantaneously that no one would ever notice it.

The likelihood of the LHC creating a stable black hole that could destroy the work is 10 to the negative 25th power, according to Cosmic Variance’s list. For some perspective, the likelihood of finding God is 10 to the negative 20th power, according to the same list.

After the initial test this weekend, the LHC will start up for real on September 10th. At that time, a full-power beam will travel around the accelerator’s 17 mile course and reach 99.99 percent of the speed of light, according to Wired.

If all of this still makes absolutely no sense, I recommend checking out the video below for a different kind of explanation.

For even more, check out some of the pictures and videos blogger Robert Scoble took (embedded below are parts 1 and 2) when he toured the CERN a few months ago.

Update: As commenter JTankers points out below, the first actual particle collisions aren’t likely to take place until October.

[first video via Popular Mechanics photo credit: CERN]

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About the Author, MG Siegler

MG Siegler writes about technology trends and new media for VentureBeat, with a focus on mobile topics, social elements and key news stories. Before that, MG wrote about technology on his blog, ParisLemon. Originally from Ohio, MG attended the University of Michigan where he studied film. He's previously lived in Los Angeles where he worked in Hollywood and in San Diego where he did web development. He now lives in San Francisco.

  • Actually collisions are not scheduled until at least October 21 and it may take years to even determine if micro black holes were created and months or years before a micro black hole could destroy the planet.
  • Beams may begin September 10th, but high energy collissions are still several weeks away, time enough for an on-line emergency safety conference.

    Even if micro black holes are created, Dr. Rossler’s calculations estimate that 50 months to 50 years would be required for a micro black hole to destroy Earth.

    Several prominent physicists who do not appear to display a competent understanding of LHC Safety issues proclaim that more powerful cosmic rays harmlessly strike Earth regularly proving safety. This argument is nonsense.

    Stable micro black holes created by cosmic ray collisions with Earth would travel through Earth at nearly the speed of light, leaving the Earth unharmed. CERN’s LHC Safety Assessment Group acknowledged this in a March 2008 email.

    Abstract below from Dr. Rossler's plea to the world, copy available on LHCFacts.org.

    "A nightmarish situation, that can still be hoped to be averted in time through communication within the scientific community, is drawn attention to. Only a few weeks remain to find out whether the danger is real or nothing but a mirage. After this time window is closed, it will take years until we know whether or not we are doomed. The story line has all the features of a best-selling novel. The reader is asked to contribute constructively."

    Quote from Dr. Otto E. Rossler, Professor Theoretical Biochemist, visiting Professor of Theoretical Physics, inventor of the Rossler Attractor, founder of Endophysics, winner of the 2003 Chaos Award of the University of Liege and the 2003 Rene Descartes Award.
  • Hmm, interesting. Still not convinced of the liklihood of that happening, but good to hear both sides.
  • robertmarshII
    It's just a 'matter' of 'time' before fate and destiny collide! The true final test of the current 'Standard Model'. You can almost feel the static building already towards this scientific progress. Relatively speaking, all my money is on the LHC ALICE experiments, when they switch to heavy Lead (Pb) ions, at 'real' full-power (without lower pulse-packet safety features), once financed -scheduled for 2009.

    http://thefifthknight.blogspot.com/

    Remember: Follow the 'White Rabbit'!
  • thetruth
    Hey there smug ass.
    The most clever way to find out if a bomb will go off is to drop it.

    ..wait.
  • Steven
    I'm with you Educated Idiots trying to make a name for them self and more reason to get absorbed in their own self important s.
  • Man's technology has exceeded his grasp. - 'The World is not Enough'
    Zealous Nobel Prize hungry Physicists are racing each other and stopping at nothing to try to find the supposed 'Higgs Boson'(aka God) Particle, among others, and are risking nothing less than the annihilation of the Earth and all Life in endless experiments hoping to prove a theory when urgent tangible problems face the planet. The European Organization for Nuclear Research(CERN) new Large Hadron Collider(LHC) is the world's most powerful atom smasher that will soon be firing subatomic particles at each other at nearly the speed of light to create Miniature Big Bangs producing Micro Black Holes, Strangelets and other potentially cataclysmic phenomena.
    Particle physicists have run out of ideas and are at a dead end forcing them to take reckless chances with more and more powerful and costly machines to create new and never-seen-before, unstable and unknown matter while Astrophysicists, on the other hand, are advancing science and knowledge on a daily basis making new discoveries in these same areas by observing the universe, not experimenting with it and with your life.
    The LHC is a dangerous gamble as CERN physicist Alvaro De Rújula in the BBC LHC documentary, 'The Six Billion Dollar Experiment', incredibly admits quote, "Will we find the Higgs particle at the LHC? That, of course, is the question. And the answer is, science is what we do when we don't know what we're doing." And CERN spokesmodel Brian Cox follows with this stunning quote, "the LHC is certainly, by far, the biggest jump into the unknown."
    The CERN-LHC website Mainpage itself states: "There are many theories as to what will result from these collisions,..." Again, this is because they truly don't know what's going to happen. They are experimenting with forces they don't understand to obtain results they can't comprehend. If you think like most people do that 'They must know what they're doing' you could not be more wrong. Some people think similarly about medical Dr.s but consider this by way of comparison and example from JAMA: "A recent Institute of Medicine report quoted rates estimating that medical errors kill between 44,000 and 98,000 people a year in US hospitals." The second part of the CERN quote reads "...but what's for sure is that a brave new world of physics will emerge from the new accelerator,..." A molecularly changed or Black Hole consumed Lifeless World? The end of the quote reads "...as knowledge in particle physics goes on to describe the workings of the Universe." These experiments to date have so far produced infinitely more questions than answers but there isn't a particle physicist alive who wouldn't gladly trade his life to glimpse the "God particle", and sacrifice the rest of us with him. Reason and common sense will tell you that the risks far outweigh any potential(as CERN physicists themselves say) benefits.
    This quote from National Geographic exactly sums this "science" up: "That's the essence of experimental particle physics: You smash stuff together and see what other stuff comes out."
    Find out more about that "stuff" below;
    http://www.SaneScience.org/
    http://www.LHCFacts.org
    http://www.risk-evaluation-forum.org/anon1.htm
    http://www.lhcdefense.org/
    http://www.lhcconcerns.com
    Popular Mechanics - "World's Biggest Science Project Aims to Unlock 'God Particle'" - http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/extreme...
  • I am very excited about the LHC and dismiss these paranoid theories of Black holes consuming the Earth. There is simply not enough energy to create a stable Earth threatening Black hole. Current theories already believe that mini black holes pop in and out of existence all the time. Yes, the scientists may not fully anticipate the outcomes of every experiment but they know the level of energy required for Black holes and the LHC is no even close to producing them. I for one expect the LHC to reveal secrets about the Universe that will have far reaching benefits for Mankind. The scaremongering by certain sections of the ill informed community concerns me to the point I seriously wonder if there is an agenda here we are not aware of. Congratulations to the visionaries behind the LHC, for these people are the real pioneers of Mankind, not politicians or religious leaders.
  • albert heaton
    The point is that science is a now a tyranny over mankind. It should be stopped. No matter how remote a disaster in principle science should threaten nobody.
    It is now threatening death, armageddon and the extinction of the only life we know to exist in the universe. The life on our precious beautiful blue planet.
    Science has only made people dumber, weaker, lazier and more likely to become extinct.I don't mind the scientists or most of mankind getting killed in an experiment but the beauty of life on Earth is innocent.
    This experiment must be stopped. The scientists are holding a gun to the head of everybody and every living thing on the planet!! It is terrorism, threatened mass destruction and extermination. It is evil!!
  • Dave
    Exactly how has science made people "dumber"?
    What was it that kept is smarter, then?
  • Darr
    The same fears we're discussed when the first atomic tests took place. Fear of "lighting the atmosphere on fire", etc. With each new discovery there is risk. These scientist will most likely be the first to see the handiwork of God close up. Exciting stuff, I sure hope they don't blow up the world!
  • Xander
    The only way to stop a black hole would be to make another so that they hopefully cancel each other out. But im no scientist, it could work or it could help the first blackhole expand. Although when you think about it two oppersit forces should cancel each other out. Try to picture tow black hole herisons facing each other the could cancel each other or they could implode.

    Sorry for any spelling mistakes, in a rush. Could someone with knowledge give there thoughts on my thoery. Thank you
  • sam
    Now, I'm no physicist, but I do know that you obviously have little knowledge of how black holes work (no offense). A black hole is simply an object which has such great mass that anything within a certain proximity is unable to escape its gravitational pull. This is known as an event horizon. Anything within the event horizon is stuck, not even light can escape. Moreover, what I gathered from your comment, you take the phrase "black hole" a little too literally. Black holes are three dimensional. The event horizons would therefore, most probably be spherical. It's still theoretical though, as we have yet to observe actual black holes. As for the black holes that the LHC could make, they would be microscopic as well as unstable meaning they could not exist for more than a few seconds before collapsing.
  • albert heaton
    The scientists expect to create millions of black holes in the course of their experiments. They are expected to evaporate by "Hawking radiation" a phenomena Stephen Hawking now doubts exists.
    Now, I can opt of going on a plane or doing a bunji jump but this evil science is compulsory for us all; that is evil, terrorism and tyranny if ever.
    On aseperate note people are dumber than ever because civilisation saves protects, nurtures and multiplies people with low IQ. People that would die in Nature, (the village idiots of the past (note all the religious nuts world wide). Science and technology also cuts people off from Nature and reality; they become over specialised and disconnected from anything meaningful. They can't function socially, have proper relationships or do anything practical.
    Take this experiment; any real spin off will just be more masturbatory gadgets and things to make life "easier." I work outdoors ten hours a day as a biologist and conservationist and I like hard work, its enjoyable, I don't understand the "easy" life mentality at all. I honestly think people were at their happiest in medeival times working in the fields with a giant barrel of beer.
  • Anando
    You actually make 90% sense . Pretty true. Modern medical science ensures people live, people multiply like rats and consume the earth . So basically modern medical science was evil? I hope not I depend on it to live everyday lol!
  • jamie colclough
    its all damn true hes completely right
  • Gosh, it's just a big atom smasher, and the possibility of something dangerous to happen is too small for that something to happen ;) If it would have been real risk, scientists would inform us, or take measures against it, or, after all, never would have thought of taking this idea to reality. So stop worrying, listen to common sense and do not let this rumor by fools take over your mind.
    http://www.votetheday.com/polls/worlds-largest-...
  • Anonymous
    It will end tonight (9/9/08 12:30 French Time) DOOMSDAY!!!!!!! it will offically push 2 atoms together making a black hole/find out how the world started. if a Black whole is started there is 4 possible outcomes.
    1. Earth gets sukced into another dimension.

    2. Earth gets sucked into another dimension were it is all the opposite.

    3. Earth will just implode on itself

    4. We all find out how the Earth was created.

    we will only find out the outcome if for the good in days weeks months or maybe even years if for the worse where we just implode we wont know at all we will just die.

    glad to cheer you up lol atleast you know the truth now from a reliable inside scientist.

    Trust me i am right if you choose not to beleive me that is your choice but i have been told by one of the scientist one of the four outcomes will come true.

    There is about 60/40 percent the world will be annialated.

    Which one you decide you will never know.
  • anon
    if ur a releiable inside scientist thats why uve posted as anon!!!!!
  • Anonymous
    well im not supposed to say who i am it is a breach of conduct to release that kind of information if im wrong then look in my black hole
  • anon
    pah ha ha ha ha!!! ur full of it!!! it breaches ur fing conduct being so blunt!!! so what time is 1230 french time in uk time???aint it round about now??????
  • Anonymous
    yes it will be 23:30 (14 minutes)
  • anon
    ok well ive got 3mins now!!!
  • anon
    good god im still here!!!!
  • Robin
    "It will end tonight (9/9/08 12:30 French Time) DOOMSDAY!!!!!!! it will offically push 2"
    Yeah, anonymous scientist.

    I don't really think any of this will happen and the term (sucked) is not correct either. You are probably some guy who is trying to scare people into this crap thinking that "DOMESDAY" will happen. Yes we will die EVENTUALITY due to natural causes but a Mini black hole will simple dissipate and radiate Hawkins Radiation

    I cant wait for the results :)
  • Robin
    Very quickly, it wont be pushing two atoms together
    Instead, it will fire two protons close to the speed of like (99.99999999%) and collide them together.
    Einsteins equation E = MC2 means that the two PARTICLES will have so much energy that Mass will be created and thus hoping to make the higgs boson
  • Anon #2
    Got up this morning, it was sunny and my kids all behaved. Evidently the world did indeed end last night.
    There is a theory which states that if we ever find out exactly how & why the universe was created, it will instantly cease to exist, to be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.
    There is another theory which states that this has already happened.

    Incidentally, wouldn't a reliable inside scientist be able to spell "annihilate" properly.....?
  • jen.
    How does anyone know what will happen? Seriously? There is no way anyone can predict what can happen, Scientists can only have a rough idea of the outcome, If all goes well then we will have succeeded in a revolutionary breakthrough that will answer the questions that have been on many people's minds since .. Well since forever?

    Worst case scenarios are blown out of proportion, Things i have learned, If you want to know the worst case scenario on something like this, Do you REALLY want to search the Internet for answers? That's like trying to diagnose your own illnesses online, You may have a slight headache and you look up a solution on google and start making yourself believe you have a brain tumour or something.

    As i have said already, No-one knows what will happen until it's happened.

    In my eye's the worst thing to happen has already happened. (excluding armageddon) The amount of money gone into this project when there are far more important things to spend it on, Sure we would all like to know if our theories are correct but what difference would it make? Scientists could rub their hands together and say "yay, We are the first" So what? What about the things in life that we actually need money for?

    Why is every third advertisement on my television urging us (The people) To donate money to charity, Showing us pictures of half naked biafrans? Showing us pictures of starving animals in need of rescue? Yet the people of this planet choose to decide who is poor and who isn't.. All that money for an answer, Is it really that necessary? If this project fails and nothing happens when you flick that switch, Just remember that you have killed thousands of starving people.

    On a lighter note. I'M STILL ALIVE!! ;)
  • Anando
    thats because for us humans ..humanity now least important!
  • jack
    hey i think the black hole will happen they said that there is a better chance of shooting a bullet from earth and the moon and both bullets coliding so good bye earth in october lol its not going to work if anything is off by even a centimeter were done here comes the black hole. this was not a good idea from the start
  • Bored
    Sooooooo... I hear it would take 5 years for a black hole to turn into the size of our planet... 2012 sound familiar?
  • We're late for this experiment. Half-Life scenario takes place on May 5th, 2000. I need to update the core story.
    GF
  • Worrier
    I am very, very afraid about this experiment, and the potential impact it will have on mankind. I really wish there was something that we could do to stop it. Really pisses me off that a group of mad scientists can end it for all of us "innocent" people.
  • edhardy622
    UGGs became ubiquitous among Southern California surfers and Southern California downhill skiers, and from there, Uggs, which name comes from the Australian
    http://www.uggboots365.co.uk