Particle accelerators

Particle Accelerators Physicists have long theorized that particle accelerators could destroy the earth. When electric fields are used to accelerate protons they could collide at speed fast enough to create black holes or bits of altered matter. These small black holes would slowly engulf our planet. The pieces of altered matter, called strangeletes, would destroy any ordinary matter they came in contact with, eventually annihilating the entire planet. Although most scientists assure that none of the particle accelerators being used at the present are strong enough to bring about these events they are unsure of the abilities of the newest accelerator being built. Currently, ... Read Full Story

A prototype liquid-argon detector called ArgoNeuT will pave the way for the MicroBooNE facility at Fermilab By Mark Alpert Neutrino Hunters Bonnie Fleming and Mitchell Soderberg inspect a prototype liquid-argon detector called ArgoNeuT that will pave the way for the MicroBooNE facility at Fermilab. Fermilab The detection of extra dimensions beyond the familiar four—the three dimensions of space and one of time—would be among the most earth-shattering discoveries in the history of physics. Now scientists at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Ill., are designing a new experiment that would investigate tantalizing hints that extra dimensions may indeed exist. Last year researchers involved ... Read Full Story

Scientists have developed a high-tech way to date and value vintage wines ... using a particle accelerator. The researchers in France (where else would it be?) say the new method uses ion beam analysis to authenticate the age and origin of the glass used in the wine bottle. Unfortunately for staff at the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) the technique also means the wine does not need to be opened. Particle accelerators take a particle, such as an electron, speed it up to near the speed of light and smash it into an atom to discover its internal workings. The results are then ... Read Full Story

Computers revolutionized industrial design. Almost everything — from matches to electric power stations — has been designed, interpreted to please the eye and implemented on a computer and in real life. However, one field was left completely unattended! This is the field of heavy ion accelerators — enourmous devices, up to five stories high and priced at £100–200 million each. Their appearance is extremely functional and reflects the interaction of accelerator’s components. With something that complex and expensive the looks is the last thing people think about. Here is my attempt to bridge the gap using a computer model of the existing cycltrone. It ... Read Full Story

@heyitstva It can be a good theme for your stand up comedy show, well the particle accelerator that is ;) (via Blog) : posted an entry on “stand up comedy” - Twitter Search @heyitstva It can be a good theme for your stand up comedy show, well the particle accelerator that is ;) 9:38 am - Comment Read Full Story