large hadron collider

[claymore]

If the Large hadron collider lives up to all expectations and does n`t destroy the Earth , what will it mean to the average man in the street in the long run. what return will those companies that have sunk millions of dollars / euros into the project get out of it ?

[R1Geezer]

Who knows but generally further understanding of things leads indirectly to a better life for everyone. I mean we wouldn't have most day to day things that make our lives more bearable without scientists pushing the boundries. You wouldn't be looking at the screen you are now mate if it wasn't for scientific Endeavour.

If the world was populated by tw@ts like you we'd all be living in caves without the NHS for you to pump no money into. Remember all the stuff you think is a waste of money actually creates wealth to prop up the things you consider should get the money thus spent. What a n0b!

[jake-the-peg]

There is a story about Faraday demonstrating the first electric motor to Gladstone.

Gladstone looked at the little piece of wire going around in the pool of mercury and said "Very good Mr. Faraday but what use is it?"

Faraday replied "I don't know Sir but I feel sure that one day you will tax it!"

The LHC is fundamental physics. It builds on our understanding of matter. Things like cathode ray tuibes for TVs came directly friom work on the electron a hundred years ago.

It was impossible at the time to predict that at the time and in the same way it is impossible to predict what will come from the better understanding of mass and hence gravity that will come from the LHC.

It costs us each about 0.3p a day

[claymore]

You really are a moron Geezer, talk about jumping to conclusions. No where in my post did I question the wisdom of scientific research.It was a simple question....how will it benefit mankind? I`m sorry if the question was too complicated for you to grasp.

[R1Geezer]

You've asked the same question lots of times in many guises. It's always the same theme, there's always a subtext, "why do we spend on.......yada yada.........NHS........starving ..... yada yada.......". so I'm a moron because I see though your ill thought out drivel, right oh! What about the other 2 above I mean they agree with me.

OK genius so what exactly is your point with this question?? I don't think the science is it, is it??

[R1Geezer]

Exhibit A:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Science/Questio n542583.html

[Theland1]

The LHC will lead to telepathy, and so save us the monthly mobile phone bills.
This according to Brian Bining.

[claymore]

Your just looking for an axe to grind Geezer , you really should try to keep your emotions under control, it`s not healthy.

[R1Geezer]

You are the one grinding the axe:

"any money spent on research is wasted" - seems to be the mantra

[fo3nix]

As the above says -- who knows. jake's quote sums it up very well. It may be some of the most important stuff to benefit mankind ever. Or it may just be a stepping stone to other theories that turn out to be important.

But the act of finding new things out is the interesting and important thing.

And the rumour that it somehow is going to create black holes and swallow the Earth is just rubbish spread by idiots that don't have a clue what they're talking about.

[beso]

A great deal of the experimental evidence for Quantum Mechanics was found in the the ancestors of the LAC.

The laser was the first ever device to use Quantum technology. When it was invented in 1960 it was considered an interesting device that lacked any practical use. Now it is claimed that there is no process untouched by laser technology.

One possibility the LAC might discover something about matter that shows us how to make energy from fusion of deuterium found in seawater. We will never know if we don't try.

[jake-the-peg]

Well I think we know how to do that beso.

But a better understanding of Gravity is a real possibility and that could open all sorts of doors

[Cheeris]

Xerus - why is fear of large scale accidents justified? Obviously, fear comes naturally out of a lack of understanding, but can I ask for an example of an actual serious accident to come out of a scientific experiment? (ignoring examples of idiotic scaremongering by Walter Wagner alluded to by claymore)

[beso]

Maybe I should have said a practical way to do fusion. There are still a lot of obstacles to overcome in conventional fusion technology.

However there already is a cold fusion process that actually does work. It is catalysed by short lived particles called muons which are made in atom smashers and it takes more energy to make the particles than is produced from the reactions they catalyse during thier short lifespan.

The LAC might help find other ways to produce muons or some other particle cabable of the same trick and make cold fusion practical.

[jake-the-peg]

Actually Beso the obstacles in Hot fusion are now largely engineering ones not physics ones.

JET achieved fusion and ITER (now being built in France) will achieve Breakeven (more energy ou than in) This will be followed by DEMO (I guess Japan)

We are 2 hops away now

[Dolly1308]

WOW!!!