Question for science boffins
kelsen
Posts: 2,003
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13000253BBC News wrote:Tevatron accelerator yields hints of new particle
So in the whole scheme of things, what does it mean for us Joe Blows?
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kelsen wrote:BBC News wrote:Tevatron accelerator yields hints of new particle
So in the whole scheme of things, what does it mean for us Joe Blows?
Nothing in the short term, no idea in the medium-long term. Looking forward to finding out.
Happened to see an episode of the West Wing a couple of days ago that had the exact question
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0745606/quotes[while discussing the importance of funding the superconducting supercollider - a controversial scientific project that would cost billions]
Sen. Jack Enlow, D-IL: If we can only say what benefit this thing has. No one's been able to do that.
Dr. Dalton Millgate: That's because great achievement has no road map. The X-Ray is pretty good, and so is penicillin, and neither were discovered with a practical objective in mind. I mean, when the electron was discovered in 1897, it was useless. And now we have an entire world run by electronics. Hayden and Mozart never studied the classics. They couldn't. They invented them.0 -
I believe that LASERs were also a pointless discovery that now permeate every aspect of life.
We, should if all goes well get some kind of improved kitchen device out of the work.0 -
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In the short and probably medium turns it will mean nothing, what it MAY mean in the much longer term is an improvement in our knowledge of sub atomic particle relationships with potential to improve 'atomic' power generation (Fusion/fission or something totally new) but probably it will be meaningless in any normal usage of the word for 40 years.
SimonCurrently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0 -
[pedant] Haydn without the E [/pedant]
@JG & UEJason Palmer off of the BBC wrote:If proved, it will be a completely new, unanticipated particle; researchers say it cannot be the much sought-after Higgs boson.
Reading the article, it might be nothing, or our current theories may need major revision. The quoted scientist seems to think the former is more likely, but there is more analysis to do.1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
Pinnacle Monzonite
Part of the anti-growth coalition0 -
Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter0 -
Eventually it will mean this
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Chris
Genesis Equilibrium - FCN 3/4/50 -
rjsterry wrote:[pedant] Haydn without the E [/pedant]
@JG & UEJason Palmer off of the BBC wrote:If proved, it will be a completely new, unanticipated particle; researchers say it cannot be the much sought-after Higgs boson.
Reading the article, it might be nothing, or our current theories may need major revision. The quoted scientist seems to think the former is more likely, but there is more analysis to do.
If the data doesn't fit the model then the model has to be revisited, despite the successful predictions it has made. Such is the course of science. Let's see what the LHC comes up with.0 -
Assuming this is indeed a new particle, did it exist before they measured it?
I seem to remember reading something about that a while ago. Something in the back of my brain thinks it may have something to do with a cat.--
Chris
Genesis Equilibrium - FCN 3/4/50 -
What it means is that we've taken a step further into - no matter how miniscule - learning more about particle physics.
In the long term we could learn that all the main stream hypothesis is correct, which would be boring. Or we could learn that there is a whole level of advance physics we are yet to grasp and theorise.
Personally, I think all this exploration into particles and the dispersal of energy will lead to identifying ways we can better manipulate energy i.e. self-sustainable fussion/fission technology (which isn't atomic). But meh, that's just me.
Imagine vehicles that are powered by small haydron colliders that use the energy byproduct of smashing particles....Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game0 -
DonDaddyD wrote:Imagine vehicles that are powered by small haydron colliders that use the energy byproduct of smashing particles....
Silly Particle Racing?0 -
DonDaddyD wrote:Imagine vehicles that are powered by small haydron colliders that use the energy byproduct of smashing particles....
That wouldn't work, where would the energy to accelerate the atoms to collision speed come from? You're not going to suggest it could power itself are you?
I can imagine Robots that can think for themselves and self replicate. That would be bad. I've seen blade runner and terminator!--
Chris
Genesis Equilibrium - FCN 3/4/50 -
Sketchley wrote:DonDaddyD wrote:Imagine vehicles that are powered by small haydron colliders that use the energy byproduct of smashing particles....
That wouldn't work, where would the energy to accelerate the atoms to collision speed come from? You're not going to suggest it could power itself are you?
I can imagine Robots that can think for themselves and self replicate. That would be bad. I've seen blade runner and terminator!0 -
I can remember a bit of one of my A-level physics or maths lessons about fitting a curve (i.e. an equation modelling that data) to a set of data: there was a very good point about how very different curves can look locally identical and it's only when you 'zoom out' that you realise that what looked like a good match is actually way off.1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
Pinnacle Monzonite
Part of the anti-growth coalition0 -
--
Chris
Genesis Equilibrium - FCN 3/4/50 -
Another grant for the bl**dy theoretical physicists :evil:0
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So was ny joke crap or did no one get it?Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter0 -
Kieran_Burns wrote:So was ny joke crap or did no one get it?
* Strewth, that was hard work on this sunny day0 -
JonGinge wrote:Kieran_Burns wrote:So was ny joke crap or did no one get it?
* Strewth, that was hard work on this sunny day
Ah. So it was crap.
Thank God.Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter0 -
Kieran_Burns wrote:JonGinge wrote:Kieran_Burns wrote:So was ny joke crap or did no one get it?
* Strewth, that was hard work on this sunny day
Ah. So it was crap.
Thank God.0 -
JonGinge wrote:Kieran_Burns wrote:JonGinge wrote:Kieran_Burns wrote:So was ny joke crap or did no one get it?
* Strewth, that was hard work on this sunny day
Ah. So it was crap.
Thank God.
So true...
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rjsterry wrote:I can remember a bit of one of my A-level physics or maths lessons about fitting a curve (i.e. an equation modelling that data) to a set of data: there was a very good point about how very different curves can look locally identical and it's only when you 'zoom out' that you realise that what looked like a good match is actually way off.
This is pretty much exactly how physics has developed as a science. People look at the extremes (very fast, very small, very high energies) because those are the areas where the current theory doesn't quite fit.
Newton's laws work fine until you get to very high speeds. General relativity works until you start trying to look at elementary particles, etc.
The LHC smashes stuff together at energies that have never before been reliably observable, because it's only at those energies that it starts to become obvious what we got right and what we got wrong.0 -
kelsen wrote:BBC News wrote:Tevatron accelerator yields hints of new particle
So in the whole scheme of things, what does it mean for us Joe Blows?
Several applications:
Used to make the lighter-than-air alloy "Arborium".
A lubricant for frictionless bearings and bicycle chains.
Added to LEDs produces a positive thrust known as "photon drive". (This is only an advantage when used in rear lights.)This post contains traces of nuts.0 -
DonDaddyD wrote:What it means is that we've taken a step further into - no matter how miniscule - learning more about particle physics.
In the long term we could learn that all the main stream hypothesis is correct, which would be boring. Or we could learn that there is a whole level of advance physics we are yet to grasp and theorise.
Personally, I think all this exploration into particles and the dispersal of energy will lead to identifying ways we can better manipulate energy i.e. self-sustainable fussion/fission technology (which isn't atomic). But meh, that's just me.
Imagine vehicles that are powered by small haydron colliders that use the energy byproduct of smashing particles....This post contains traces of nuts.0