Un "black hole" a la Francaise?

I was a little disturbed to read today about the CERN project in France that has something to do with colliding particles and powerful magnets. Some are fearing that this could make a black hole that would swallow earth. As a scientist, I know too many stories of people worried irrationally about impossible consequences from things, often spurred by a lack of education on the subject. In this sense, I will admit that I am ignorant on the subject of physics (never took it though my dad taught it long ago! Maybe I absorbed some around the house when I was little).

I know nothing of the physics of this issue, and feel a little silly being concerned about it. However, one thing does bother me. If we are looking for hypothetical molecules, and dimensions that have been calculated in mathematical rather than physical reality, then there is a large unknown here. As in many things, it seems that the more we learn, the more we see how little we know! In any case, the fact that the "destruction of the planet" was named in a lawsuit aimed at stopping the project should raise more eyebrows, although I will concede that in this case, we could similarly argue that monkeys will fly out of the sun if we turn on this machine, as we think they may inhabit the 6th dimension.

Lastly, how exactly can we produce a safety report judging the risk of something so unknown? Am I wrong and there is more known? So perhaps my problem is not with the project itself, but our claim that we can even calculate the risk in this case. (I will also concede here that I am fully out-degreed by the risk assessment panel including a Nobel laureate.)

I just feel that as a citizen of the earth, perhaps more people should have a say in this. We are no longer countries with small populations of farmers and traders. We are large countries that have built things far more powerful than we are. Incredible, but also disconcerting. We are un seul peuple; hard to say if the larger masses of us are qualified to make a judgement in this case, but should we be more careful about the decisions the few make for la foule?

If you would like to see some physicists argue about this stuff, and a moderately technical explanation of the possibility of a mini-black hole actually forming, see this post.

Done, passed, and on to research!

And to try to get a plant named after me...

Outside magazine reporter - "I noticed there is a Central American ant, Pheidole harrisonfordi, named after you. How did you swing that?"

Harrison Ford - "You buy drinks for Edward O. Wilson, the world's leading expert on ants."

Passed!

Passed my written exams. Funny- one question was basically asking for the same explanation of the processes involved in the "iconic megaflora" entry. Blogging comes in handy sometimes! It helped me practice for that question!

I just hope my passing oral exams won't be such a stochastic process. Advice was to "have fun with it." We'll see if I can do that!

Almost Exam Time!

Well, Botany retreat done and over with! Teaching responsibilities almost done! And now it's time for my exams on Thursday. I have found that it is true that one cannot study for more than 2 months. I have reached a psychological overload with just a few days left!

I have been reading and reading and became exhausted just before it's time to cram knowledge into my head. I'm not sure if I'm actually tired because I know I've done enough I should or if it's psychological. I just can't find the motivation to study any more!

Oh well. I'll do my best! Thanks, dad for the poem (that I revised slightly):

Oh I'm just a little Main-ah,
With a bandaid on my knee,
And I'm stressed by 6 professors
Who I hope will be kind to me!

So U-Cally, oh it's too soon,
Don't now cry for me,
'Cuz I'm smarter than they all know,
And I know my Bo-Ta-Ny!