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One Billion People Tuned in to See the LHC Break
Posted by Jack Loftus at 2:00 AM on September 22, 2008
The CERN scientists said the LHC's big malfunction this weekend was the result of a "faulty electrical connection between two magnets that stopped superconducting, melted and led to a mechanical failure and let the helium out," but we snarky Internet folk know better. It was performance anxiety! With more than a billion people tuning in to watch the first proton beams make their way around the 22.5km ring, the LHC just got a little potty shy. "It is quite overwhelming," said CERN spokesman James Gillies. "We weren't just on the news, we were top of the news." And now you're buried under a mountain of repairs. Get to work so the world can end already! [New Scientist]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Pwnage
Posted 2:29 AM 22/9/08
So that was it -- information overload, no big deal
Pwnage
ljj
Posted 2:29 AM 22/9/08
It is clear that the Vulcans sabotaged the LHC in order to protect the galaxy.
I know you are watching Vulcans, alway watching.
ljj
Chester_Copperpot
Posted 2:28 AM 22/9/08
@LazyPanda:
+ Watch video
Chester_Copperpot
LazyPanda
Posted 2:20 AM 22/9/08
@tenio: Real damage? I doubt the LHC could do much real damage, except for possibly giving helicopters cancer.
LazyPanda
General Halfshaftery
Posted 2:15 AM 22/9/08
I shall name it "The Big Dig 2: Even Crappier"
General Halfshaftery
tenio
Posted 2:10 AM 22/9/08
I for one am glad they had a problem now and not later when some real damage could occur.
These 2 months will give them a chance to reevaluate all their work and ensure the best chance of success.
tenio
gamecrazychris
Posted 3:13 AM 22/9/08
Maybe it was those hackers waiting for the perfect moment to strike
gamecrazychris
Aristeia
Posted 3:08 AM 22/9/08
@Cultivar: Yeah, I agree.
An estimated 1 billion viewers. Did the writers stop and think about how ridiculously stupid that sounds?
"Out of our sample group of 6 people, one watched. Holy shit! that's 1/6 people! ZOMG A BILLION PEOPLE WERE WATCHING THIS."
(ok, i'm sure they use different methods, but come on! one billion? gawd, they're just making shit up nowadays.)
Aristeia
tenio
Posted 3:07 AM 22/9/08
@LazyPanda: i mean like totally destroying the LHC , not just making it out of commission for 2 months
tenio
chrisaroz
Posted 3:02 AM 22/9/08
@Cultivar: Agreed, one sixth of the world watched. Really?
chrisaroz
digitalhen
Posted 2:58 AM 22/9/08
yeah, 1bn? that's bull. i don't know anyone that actually watched it.
digitalhen
Cultivar
Posted 2:51 AM 22/9/08
A billion viewers is Nielsen bullshit. I'm disappointed these myths get repeated, as with Oscars and Olympics. There's a limit to 'me too' propogandising and its somewhere around numbers that eclipse first world citizenry and wealth distribution.
Cultivar
unkpku is sick
Posted 2:42 AM 22/9/08
@Chester_Copperpot: So the panda is the predator, right?
unkpku is sick
DarkMirage
Posted 3:19 AM 22/9/08
I doubt that a billion people even know what the LHC is.
DarkMirage
Jitty
Posted 5:04 AM 22/9/08
That's the problem with super conducting magnets. If the temperatures gets even one degree above the superconducting point. (which is like 3 kelvin off from absolute zero) Then the magnets suddenly become giant heating elements.
Jitty
4ster
Posted 7:13 AM 22/9/08
gizmodo: it's 17 miles, not 14.
4ster
BiZarRroBALlmeR
Posted 9:57 AM 22/9/08
How do they know the damage wasn't caused by a rogue black hole? hmm? huh?
@4ster: That's 27-kilometer's to you and me. Well maybe not you.
BiZarRroBALlmeR
4ster
Posted 12:38 PM 22/9/08
OK, 16.7770222 miles. I was just quoting Wikipedia ;)
4ster
Sticky230
Posted 2:54 PM 22/9/08
@DarkMirage: got that right
Sticky230
Griffehpoo
Posted 3:14 PM 22/9/08
@General Halfshaftery: I shall name it "Breakin' 2: Electric Meltin' Boogaloo".
Griffehpoo
El_Guappo
Posted 7:00 PM 23/9/08
@Jitty:
"which is like 3 kelvin off from absolute zero"
So that would be 3 kelvin?
El_Guappo