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I can't remember where I saw it, but someone described it thus:
Proving the existence of the Higg's Boson is like Copernicus declaring the Earth revolves around the Sun. It's scientifically interesting and provides a stepping stone toward further discoveries about the universe, but won't see any practical use for another four hundred years.
True.
But a lot of the technology developed for the search could be huge. MRIs came about from taking last generation particle detector technology and looking inside a person. The internet came from the predecessor to the LHC needing to process massive amounts of data. GPS only works because of general relativistic corrections which came about due to Einstein thinking about whether a person falling would feel their own weight.
Don't forget that a hundred years ago people wanted to understand the spectral lines of hydrogen. Utterly impractical knowledge, except that it led to quantum mechanics which led to electronics. And electronics rarely use hydrogen! :p So it's very difficult to say what the long term implications of any given result will be. Some lead nowhere while others are huge. Taken as a whole the return on investment is pretty good. Heck, the Director General of CERN often ends up having to quote results about the return on investment in CERN. New technologies, companies getting to work at the forefront of technology and developing their own expertise, etc. So it's hardly money wasted. Compare the ~$10 billion on the LHC to the Iraq War. It's a drop in the bucket in comparsion, plus it was paid for by many countries so the cost to each is actually smaller than that.
Oh, no. I'm not saying it's insignificant at all.
Just don't start expecting time travel and antigravity within your lifetime.
LHCb sees where the antimatter’s goneWhat are the potential future goals for the Super Collider once the Higgs Boson is found or proven not to exist? I'm wondering what else do physicists have in store for such an amazing machine.
Also, when will the discovery of the Higgs Boson open way for new varieties of ice-cream? I must know this.
ALICE looks at collisions of lead ions
CMS and ATLAS are two of a kind
They’re looking for whatever new particles they can find.
The LHC accelerates the protons and the lead
And the things that it discovers will rock you in the head.
Oh, no. I'm not saying it's insignificant at all.
Just don't start expecting time travel and antigravity within your lifetime.
Way to squash my dreams.
/kicks stone
I was promised flying cars by 2010.
<taps foot impatiently>
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If hundreds of physicists saw the Higgs-Boson,
does that make it a mass sighting?
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Actually the only question is:
If we found God's Particle, can someone give me its alignment so I can choose my cleric wisely?
Actually the only question is:
If we found God's Particle, can someone give me its alignment so I can choose my cleric wisely?
It was chaotic elusve, but now it is massively lawful.
I know, right!?!
It's the 2nd half of 2012. Where the F+*+ is my flying car?Oh, no. I'm not saying it's insignificant at all.
Just don't start expecting time travel and antigravity within your lifetime.
We don't even have hoverboards yet! But there are already several flying cars to choose from: the PAL-V, the Terrafugia Transition, and (maybe) the Moller SkyCar. Just beware the 501st NyanCat Airborne NecroBorg Troopers.
I know, right!?!
None of those are flying cars. Charlatan.
We shouldn't be arguing about the Higgy Baby anyway. Let's talk about baseball instead.
I am intrigued. Go on.
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We shouldn't be arguing about the Higgy Baby anyway. Let's talk about baseball instead.
You should have shown that one to Aeglos when he was asking about Baseball rules.