SMU Physicists Create Particle Detector for Supercollider

[MrMustang1965]

from Pegasus News (Dallas):

CERN plans to fire up the world's largest supercollider in August, which probably means we'll all be dying a fiery death due to the rampant uncontrollable release of deadly bosons.

But on the off chance that this doesn't happen, physicists at Southern Methodist University will be able to assess the functionality of the 7,000-ton subatomic particle detector they designed to be installed in the 27 kilometer closed loop super-cooled ring. (For us dim bulb Americans, 27 kilometers = 16.777 miles, equates to only about 31% the size of the Superconducting Super Collider that WOULD have been built outside Waxahachie if it hadn't been canceled by a cost-conscious Congress in 1993.)

What the scientists are going to be looking for (if we aren't all incinerated or blown to Hell or transported rather inconveniently into a parallel dimension where cartoon characters watch US on TV on Saturday mornings) are particles called Higgs bosons, which will allow scientists to ferret out a piece of the truth about the origin of the universe. (Whether it will lead to lower gasoline prices is anyone's bet.)

Physics Dept. head Ryszard Stroynowski refers to their Atlas particle detector as "the biggest science project ever, as far as I know, and probably the most complex."

http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2008/ju ... e-used-ce/

[davidsmu94]

Shoot! and I was just about finished with mine.

[couch 'em]

Too bad congress cut funding for ours. Now we have to kneel to the Europeans while they control everything.

I bet the super-colider would have been built if it could show "intelligent design".

[FWMustangGirl]

Too bad congress cut funding for ours. Now we have to kneel to the Europeans while they control everything.

I bet the super-colider would have been built if it could show "intelligent design".

[BUS]

1965, you are in rare form as you write today.

You almost make news fun! LOL

See you at the kickoff lunch.
GSS

[MustangStealth]

7,000-ton subatomic particle

Those are some big subatomic particles.

[MrMustang1965]

7,000-ton subatomic particle

Those are some big subatomic particles.

Now, now...go back and read it again...it's the subatomic particle DETECTOR that weighs 7,000 tons.