Bonus points if you can explain why people are freaking out about CERN activating it during the eclipse specifically. I don’t understand how these can be related in any way.
In: Physics
The large hadron collider is a particle accelerator, the largest and most powerful in service I believe but there are a few in construction around the world. Particle accelerators are used to study different aspects of physics and are basically a giant ring that uses magnetic fields to speed particles up and collide them. There are ones in a straight line, but with a ring, you can keep accelerating. Put even simpler: place a ball inside a tube, shoot a bullet at it, watch explosion.
Why some people are scared?
Particle accelerators are used in experiments to create anti-matter, or more specifically anti-particles among other things. In theory if matter and anti-matter collide, it would release an enormous amount of energy and matter. Some people believe these experiments could create a cosmic level explosion and destroy the universe. In practice, we can barely create the smallest amounts of antimatter with current technology. That tiny bit basically “evaporates” instantly upon creation and contact with matter.
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