The European particle accelerator is shut down for two years for upgrade work, in preparation for the resumption of work at double energy
After breaking all the physics records in its field, and leading - almost certainly - to the discovery of the particle known as the "Higgs boson", the giant European particle accelerator is going on an extended vacation. The operators of the accelerator begin to gradually turn off its devices, and on Shabbat the accelerator will shut down completely, for a period of about two years. During this time, maintenance, renovation and upgrading work will be done on it, and with the resumption of experiments, the scientists and engineers are supposed to almost double the energy levels of the colliding beams. "Until now, we have operated at a power of 4TeV (tera electron-volt, unit of energy) per beam, and now we will reach 7TeV per beam, says Prof. Giora Mickenberg, head of the Israeli group at CERN. "There are a lot of renovations and improvements for experiments, and also for the machine, so that it can operate efficiently for, for example, three years, so we will do more renovations - smaller ones this time."
As mentioned, in July of last year the researchers announced a high probability of the discovery of the Higgs boson, a particle that plays a central role in the processes of turning energy into matter after the big bang. The final announcement of the discovery is expected in the coming months. "Continuing the experiments at high energies can give us new directions about what happened at times much closer to the beginning of the universe, or what forces were relevant and what mechanisms operated," says Mickenberg. ” We understand in total what about 5% of the matter that exists in the universe is made of. The rest we do not know what it is. It's probably things that happen at high energies."
think big
And what are the plans for a longer-term accelerator? "The recommendations are to double the amount of collisions to learn important information about the properties of the Higgs about the year 2032," says Mickenberg. "Meanwhile, they are starting to talk about other accelerators, or bigger ones, with a circumference of 80-90 km (compared to 27 km in the existing accelerator - AN), or linear accelerators. When we can double the energy, we will get clues as to the right way to do the next project."
It is very possible that with the resumption of work there will be a new member of the organization that operates it - Israel. About a year and a half ago, Israel signed the agreement to join CERN and was accepted into its ranks on a conditional basis. The final decision on joining the prestigious scientific organization should be made in September this year.
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I am not against investing in research, but investing so, so, so much money for a dubious benefit is not necessarily wise,
And is blasting those particles at twice the speed worth all the extra huge investment?!
The aforementioned money could have been invested in hundreds of studies that would have brought much more benefit..
The questions you ask are:
1) If they had invested in the development of human potential, would I claim that it was a waste.
The answer is no!
2) Do I really believe that certain fields would have developed without the huge investment invested in them.
The answer is yes!
3) Do I think that achievements can be achieved through thinking alone.
The answer is no!
4) The statement that I have no idea is incorrect.
5) The statement that if everyone had a mindset like mine we would still be lighting a fire with flints is not true.
The reasons:
1) I am a consistent person in general and I believe that in this particular case I will remain consistent. Whether it's done or not, it's the best investment.
2) In most fields development comes first and only then investment. In many cases the development took place despite express opposition.
Example: Thomas Alva Edison was ridiculously rejected when he offered to invest in the production of a gramophone. The investment came only later after he built one himself. Only then did the investors understand the potential of the profit and only then did they start investing.
Similar things happened in other fields of invention.
3) It is clear that thinking alone is not sufficient and additional resources must be invested. The question is how much to invest in one matter and how much to invest in another matter. The answer to this question exists. In general, invest in what you believe will give a good result. But it distorts when vested interests take over the money. These factors direct the investment to what they think will give the best result they want instead of investing in what will give the best result. And there is a considerable difference between what they want and what is best.
No, the questions are not rhetorical and you are welcome to answer them matter-of-factly instead of playing it smart. You said that the answers are not correct, reason and explain your words.
Ohad:
a) It is not clear if you are asking or if your questions are rhetorical questions for the purpose of giving your answers.
b) The answers you give to your rhetorical questions are incorrect.
B, and if they had invested in them and you were alive during this period, you would also complain and claim that it was a colossal waste of public money, wouldn't you?
Do you really think that all the fields I mentioned in the previous message (the atom, electronics...) would have developed without the huge investments of money invested in them? Do you really think that through thinking alone without financial resources it is possible to reach such achievements? You are literally living in a movie.
You just have no idea what you are talking about, if everyone had your mindset we would still be lighting fires with flints.
The human mind is the cheapest and most efficient resource for advancement in science and technology.
If you are looking for an effective investment, you should direct the investment to maximize the potential of the human brain.
This is the best possible investment.
There are many children in the world with sharp minds who do not get an education because of their economic conditions.
If you are looking for a good investment, you can invest in free education for these children.
Although the results probably won't be immediate, I assume that within 20 to 30 years it will be possible to enjoy the fruits of this investment.
Fan,
You should learn the principle of cost-benefit. The benefit of a Zarn accelerator is low compared to investments of the same magnitude in other scientific fields.
The allowances in Zern subtract from the other investments, since the amount of money for investment is limited.
Who invested in Einstein? Newton? Galilean Galileo?
There is no connection between the massive waste of public funds and human progress.
Human progress is not a function of financial investment.
Human progress is derived from human freedom.
The freedom to think!
Only thinking can bring progress.
How fortunate that not everyone is as short-sighted as some of the commenters here.
I wonder what you would answer to someone who asked a hundred or so years ago why they study electrons, photons and electromagnetic radiation? Lucky you researched and today you have radio, television, lasers for medicine and industry, satellites, nuclear power, and a computer with which you can now ask these questions.
It is about a desire to understand the world we live in, and in my opinion this is a sufficient reason even without taking into account the material benefits that can be derived from this knowledge.
Doo doo
There is something in what you say.
I don't want to repeat for the third or fourth time my opinion regarding the reliability of the announcement of "finding the Higgs particle". I would not be surprised if the two-year closure of the accelerator is part of the budget politics that accompanied the construction of the accelerator. It would have been much more respectable, after having invested billions, to continue various experiments in the existing accelerator to see if it is worth investing more billions.
to his uncle,
If everyone thought like you, we would still be in the age of primitive man.
Everything you see around you (computer, mobile phone, car) all started in physics, in this kind of waste.
What a waste of money - they haven't finished burning the cash and are already planning a much bigger waste..