Could this be the end of life as we know it?

[atiguhya padma]

In November 2007, physicists at CERN, the European Research Station, will commence an experiment, in which they hope to re-create the conditions that occurred within microseconds of the beginning of the universe. There is a small chance that it will go horribly wrong and destroy the whole planet, and I presume much of the space around it. The chances are somewhere around 10 million to one. Of course, if you believe in god, then you are familiar with believing something that is unbelievably unlikely, and therefore maybe you should be worried with what the physicists at CERN are doing. However, it seems to me that there is nothing to worry about. What do you reckon?

[PrinceMyshkin]

The prospect scares the hell out of me. I am curious, is there any way to measure our collective desire (need?) to know a little - or in this case possibly a loy - about the origins of the universe, against even the minute possibility of ending life for ourselves, our childre, grandchildren?

If you had the sole power to pull the lever to initiate that experiment or eliminate it forever, which would YOU do?

[atiguhya padma]

Apparently, when the first atomic bomb was tested, there was a slim chance that the splitting of the atom would create an uncontrolled chain reaction, that would have destroyed our atmosphere, and yet this experiment was still undertaken. I also understand that in the US, they have created a black hole in a lab which is being controlled by scientists. Not sure whether there were any chances of anything going wrong in that experiment.

[Video Drone]

I do not believe into this kind of thing and I don't worry about things I don't understand... nothing we can do anyway.

[Niamh]

I've one word for the whole idea. Daft.

[NikolaiI]

It doesn't sound likely to me, but we'll never know, will we?

[Lily Adams]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy for physics!

Well, we'll all go together, now won't we? But it would be kind of sad to lose a planet that has life on it. We're kind of rare, I believe.

[MaryLupin]

In November 2007, physicists at CERN...

Too bad they don't wait until Dec 12, 2012 to do the experiment. Then we could all marvel at the synchronicity of the Mayans and Cern and worry at the same time. That would be fun. As it is I will just have to check the net the next day to see if I am still alive.

[Granny5]

It may be the end of the world as we know it, but I feel fine!

[applepie]

Oh well All the more reason to make the most of life now. I figure that if it happens there isn't anything I can do about it. Now my ghost may be beating other ghosts for the harm to my children, but we'll wait and see. I'll have to see if I can find the date just so I know if we live through it all. I'd be a liar to say I don't think it is exciting. I love science, and if it is sucessful this will be a huge step foward for scientists everywhere. I'll be watching for information and a journal about it.

[Lily Adams]

Too bad they don't wait until Dec 12, 2012 to do the experiment. Then we could all marvel at the synchronicity of the Mayans and Cern and worry at the same time. That would be fun. As it is I will just have to check the net the next day to see if I am still alive.

Ahahahaha! Yeah! The Mayans...I heard about that whole thing.

It may be the end of the world as we know it, but I feel fine!

Good allusion.

[aeroport]

It may be the end of the world as we know it, but I feel fine!

Now, unless I'm very much mistaken, this was playing near the beginning of "Independence Day"...and an hour later we were in fact watching the earth get destroyed. How...inauspicious.