LHC webcam

September 11, 2008 11:44 AM

LHC Webcams.There's been a lot of LHC news lately but a less-publicized series of Compact Muon Solenoid proton collision tests is scheduled for today, and CERN has been kind enough to set up a live streaming webcam to watch the CMS in action. (There's also a view of the parking lot but I think that's more so underground-bunkered LHC staff can see the weather.) It's fairly dull viewing but if you're interested in the science of it all, it's great nerdy fun. Maybe you'll even see a black hole or two. ;)
posted by brownpau (22 comments total)

This won't last long, but I laughed.
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 11:47 AM on September 11, 2008

Heh.

But they need better webcams 'cause I can't see any muons at that resolution.
posted by GuyZero at 11:49 AM on September 11, 2008

I think it's about to start.
posted by 31d1 at 11:50 AM on September 11, 2008

Has the LHC destroyed the world yet?
posted by rand at 11:51 AM on September 11, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

Presumably that CMS website is genuine? The LHS may not destroy the world but it's sure to give someone a seizure.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:51 AM on September 11, 2008

What does a new black hole really look like...
posted by Korou at 11:52 AM on September 11, 2008

And by "not last long" I mean WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 11:54 AM on September 11, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Uh oh, someone divided by zero.
posted by Dr-Baa at 11:58 AM on September 11, 2008

I laughed as well. :-)
posted by a3matrix at 12:03 PM on September 11, 2008

Are you programmed to speak?
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 12:05 PM on September 11, 2008

The real LHC does have some actual real live data on their website.
posted by Plutor at 12:07 PM on September 11, 2008

"What does a new black hole really look like..."

The event horizon here is too big. The Schwarzschild radius of a black hole the mass of the whole Earth would be around 9mm (less than an inch). And the black hole in the movie has MUCH less mass. You wouldn't be able to see the black-all-consuming-ball.

The black hole would also drop. It feels gravity too. It would drop through the floor like a skydiver, since it wouldn't rest on anything.

They didn't get the gravitation lensing of light quite right. It's more pronounced. See this.

But, anyhow, there's no chance of a dangerous black hole. Don't worry about it.
posted by maschnitz at 12:42 PM on September 11, 2008 [6 favorites has favorites]

Hmm... wouldn't a really samll one just drop to the center of the earth and then just sit there at some kind of neutral gravity point?
posted by Artw at 12:49 PM on September 11, 2008

It'd oscillate.

But yeah, a really small one would eventually settle in the center of the earth, and sit there, and eat particles that got too close.
posted by maschnitz at 12:52 PM on September 11, 2008

Figure 10 here shows a laser beam bent by the gravity of a microsingularity. Or possibly a fishing rod.
posted by Artw at 12:52 PM on September 11, 2008

Figure 10 here shows a laser beam bent by the gravity of a microsingularity. Or possibly a fishing rod.

I lol'd, cause I imagine gravity strong enough to bend a laser like that would also tend to bend the shit out of the dude holding the laser.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 1:15 PM on September 11, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Moo!
posted by homunculus at 1:28 PM on September 11, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Has the LHC destroyed the world yet?

It's a good thing that it automatically updates.
posted by pokermonk at 1:28 PM on September 11, 2008

Clearly it's not a black hole, it's a bubble of a slow-growing false vaccum.
posted by Freaky at 2:29 PM on September 11, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Did my houselights just flicker?
posted by captainsohler at 2:41 PM on September 11, 2008

What does a new black hole really look like...

More importantly does it have that new black hole smell....
posted by mannequito at 3:24 PM on September 11, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

Microscopic black holes: The secret behind the holes in the cheese.
posted by Goofyy at 5:42 AM on September 12, 2008