The world didn't end when the Large Hadron Collider was switched on in CERN in the wee morning hours today. From one of the project scientists, Brian Cox, on the irrational fears:
I am in fact immensely irritated by the conspiracy theorists who spread this nonsense around and try to scare people. This non-story is symptomatic of a larger mistrust in science, particularly in the US, which includes intelligent design amongst other things.
The only serious issue is why so many people who don't have the time or inclination to discover for themselves why this stuff is total crap have to be exposed to the opinions of these half-wits.
The only serious issue is why so many people who don't have the time or inclination to discover for themselves why this stuff is total crap have to be exposed to the opinions of these half-wits.
More on Cox:
Among the white coats is Manchester University professor Brian Cox, whose credentials as a figure in a Hitch Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy-style turn of events couldn't be more certain.
Before embarking on his scientific career, Cox was a keyboard player with the chart-topping band D:Ream, best known for the hit single and Labour Party anthem Things Can Only Get better.
By the time the band split in 1997, Brian was Dr Brian, having gained a first class honours degree in physics from Manchester University and a PhD in high energy particle physics in Hamburg.
He now splits his time between Manchester and a laboratory in Geneva, where he is in charge of the international project which created the ATLAS detectors, which allow scientists to assess what is happening inside the LHC.
He has little time for people who think the world is going to end as a result of the LHC experiment, even using some pretty non-scientific language to describe the meddling menaces who have planted 'end is nigh' theories in normally sane heads.
"I don't think anything bad of the housewife in Macclesfield who has listened to all this nonsense and thinks that something terrible might happen," the surprisingly down-to-earth particle physicist says, speaking a few days before switch-on.
"But those conspiracy theorists, the one or two scientists who disagree with absolutely every other scientist in the world about the risks involved, and who have started this silly debate unnecessarily, they really are t****.
"The point is, it's not ridiculous for people to be concerned about new scientific discoveries, including GM crops and genetic engineering, with some level of trepidation.
"But when it comes to the LHC, every single scientist in the world who knows anything about it, says that there's no problem.
"These idiots have caused us problems and cost us money. By threatening to blow the place up, they've forced us to hire loads of extra security.
"In fact, if one of these particles were to hit you, you wouldn't feel it. It would do you less harm than a mosquito bite."
Before embarking on his scientific career, Cox was a keyboard player with the chart-topping band D:Ream, best known for the hit single and Labour Party anthem Things Can Only Get better.
By the time the band split in 1997, Brian was Dr Brian, having gained a first class honours degree in physics from Manchester University and a PhD in high energy particle physics in Hamburg.
He now splits his time between Manchester and a laboratory in Geneva, where he is in charge of the international project which created the ATLAS detectors, which allow scientists to assess what is happening inside the LHC.
He has little time for people who think the world is going to end as a result of the LHC experiment, even using some pretty non-scientific language to describe the meddling menaces who have planted 'end is nigh' theories in normally sane heads.
"I don't think anything bad of the housewife in Macclesfield who has listened to all this nonsense and thinks that something terrible might happen," the surprisingly down-to-earth particle physicist says, speaking a few days before switch-on.
"But those conspiracy theorists, the one or two scientists who disagree with absolutely every other scientist in the world about the risks involved, and who have started this silly debate unnecessarily, they really are t****.
"The point is, it's not ridiculous for people to be concerned about new scientific discoveries, including GM crops and genetic engineering, with some level of trepidation.
"But when it comes to the LHC, every single scientist in the world who knows anything about it, says that there's no problem.
"These idiots have caused us problems and cost us money. By threatening to blow the place up, they've forced us to hire loads of extra security.
"In fact, if one of these particles were to hit you, you wouldn't feel it. It would do you less harm than a mosquito bite."
posted by Cheryl Shepherd-Adams
