Live data from Hacker News

New Particle Discovered at CERN

mediadesk.uzh.ch

21–30 of 38 posts

Re: New Particle Discovered at CERN

#21
post #3

>The baryon known as Xi_b^* A word on your PR, physics.

Except that that isn't what it's called. That's the TeX way of describing it. Funny that their entire press release assumes you are looking through a TeX or LaTeX lens :-) It should actually look like this: http://equationater.com/84e00ccd9705dca5bc0917a33e162502.png If you look at the full list of baryons on Wikipedia you'll see that it's one of many in this format: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_baryons This…

> Funny that their entire press release assumes you are looking through a TeX or LaTeX lens :-)

Interestingly, I didn't even notice until it was pointed out here. I guess that the LaTeX glasses are pretty strong :)

Maybe it would have stood out if surrounded by $$...

Re: New Particle Discovered at CERN

#22

I know that the world is essentially flat and that we shouldn't be so jingoistic anymore, but does it trouble anyone besides me that CERN is under the Swiss Alps near Geneva instead of under the scorching sun in the New Mexico desert? Shouldn't the "greatest Superpower in World History" be the one crashing atoms together like NASCAR autos and seeing all the mess that comes out of it? Now that I think about it, maybe…

I think it is better to think of the LHC as a global scientific instrument that just happens to be located in Switzerland. I think it's culturally beneficial for science to be freed from nationalist impulses and become a joint enterprise of the world. As we learn more about the universe, the scale and expense of the leading edge of science will increase to the point that only global participation can afford (if we're not there already).

Re: New Particle Discovered at CERN

#23

I know that the world is essentially flat and that we shouldn't be so jingoistic anymore, but does it trouble anyone besides me that CERN is under the Swiss Alps near Geneva instead of under the scorching sun in the New Mexico desert? Shouldn't the "greatest Superpower in World History" be the one crashing atoms together like NASCAR autos and seeing all the mess that comes out of it? Now that I think about it, maybe…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superconducting_Super_Collider The United States planned one with a collision energy almost three times that of CERN. ...By 1993, the cost projection exceeded $12 billion. Congress officially canceled the project October 21, 1993 after $2 billion had been spent. The SSC cost was due largely to the massive civil engineering project of digging a huge tunnel underground. The LHC in contrast…

http://costofwar.com/en/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troubled_Asset_Relief_Program

Basically, if it is health care, education, science, etc., our "representatives" are penny pinchers and will debate the issue until the end of days. Everything else gets signed in a day or the dead of night.

Re: New Particle Discovered at CERN

#24

I know that the world is essentially flat and that we shouldn't be so jingoistic anymore, but does it trouble anyone besides me that CERN is under the Swiss Alps near Geneva instead of under the scorching sun in the New Mexico desert? Shouldn't the "greatest Superpower in World History" be the one crashing atoms together like NASCAR autos and seeing all the mess that comes out of it? Now that I think about it, maybe…

We're doing cutting-edge research into fusion just down the road from my house. We've got a variety of particle accelerators, gravity sensors spread across the country, the best supercomputing research in the world, etc. People come from around the world to do research in the US. I don't think it's a bad thing that important research is also happening in Europe, in fact I think it's great because it should help promote a two-way flow of ideas. Plus, it means you and I didn't have to pay for it!

Re: New Particle Discovered at CERN

#25

I know that the world is essentially flat and that we shouldn't be so jingoistic anymore, but does it trouble anyone besides me that CERN is under the Swiss Alps near Geneva instead of under the scorching sun in the New Mexico desert? Shouldn't the "greatest Superpower in World History" be the one crashing atoms together like NASCAR autos and seeing all the mess that comes out of it? Now that I think about it, maybe…

Being Swiss myself, I can for the life of me not figure out why you should be troubled by this fact. Do you feel threatened by us? I understand you're worried about the state of science and education in the U.S., but on the other hand you cannot honestly assume that 100% of scientific and technologic breakthroughs are performed on 6.1%[1] of the world's land mass?

I've been living in the U.S. for 3 months now, and the "American exceptionalism" assumption sometimes gets on my nerves..

[1] http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=U.S.+land+area+%2F+worl...

Re: New Particle Discovered at CERN

#26

I know that the world is essentially flat and that we shouldn't be so jingoistic anymore, but does it trouble anyone besides me that CERN is under the Swiss Alps near Geneva instead of under the scorching sun in the New Mexico desert? Shouldn't the "greatest Superpower in World History" be the one crashing atoms together like NASCAR autos and seeing all the mess that comes out of it? Now that I think about it, maybe…

The work at CERN is for Science, not Religion (or misplaced Patriotism if you prefer.)

Re: New Particle Discovered at CERN

#27

I know that the world is essentially flat and that we shouldn't be so jingoistic anymore, but does it trouble anyone besides me that CERN is under the Swiss Alps near Geneva instead of under the scorching sun in the New Mexico desert? Shouldn't the "greatest Superpower in World History" be the one crashing atoms together like NASCAR autos and seeing all the mess that comes out of it? Now that I think about it, maybe…

Being Swiss myself, I can for the life of me not figure out why you should be troubled by this fact. Do you feel threatened by us? I understand you're worried about the state of science and education in the U.S., but on the other hand you cannot honestly assume that 100% of scientific and technologic breakthroughs are performed on 6.1%[1] of the world's land mass? I've been living in the U.S. for 3 months now, and th…

Not as much threatened as forlorn about our seeming decline in status as a scientific hub for the world. I find solace somewhat in the breakthroughs we've discovered and developed over the years, but must sadly concede that, hey, people are doing sexy science-y stuff all over the place.

We can't even come together for universal healthcare coverage, so maybe we don't deserve to be the lead dog of the sled.

Re: New Particle Discovered at CERN

#28

I know that the world is essentially flat and that we shouldn't be so jingoistic anymore, but does it trouble anyone besides me that CERN is under the Swiss Alps near Geneva instead of under the scorching sun in the New Mexico desert? Shouldn't the "greatest Superpower in World History" be the one crashing atoms together like NASCAR autos and seeing all the mess that comes out of it? Now that I think about it, maybe…

USA is only the "greatest Superpower in World History" if you look at the power of its army.

But that is the kind of minds that rule the country.

Re: New Particle Discovered at CERN

#29
post #26

I know that the world is essentially flat and that we shouldn't be so jingoistic anymore, but does it trouble anyone besides me that CERN is under the Swiss Alps near Geneva instead of under the scorching sun in the New Mexico desert? Shouldn't the "greatest Superpower in World History" be the one crashing atoms together like NASCAR autos and seeing all the mess that comes out of it? Now that I think about it, maybe…

The work at CERN is for Science, not Religion (or misplaced Patriotism if you prefer.)

You monster.

Re: New Particle Discovered at CERN

#30

I know that the world is essentially flat and that we shouldn't be so jingoistic anymore, but does it trouble anyone besides me that CERN is under the Swiss Alps near Geneva instead of under the scorching sun in the New Mexico desert? Shouldn't the "greatest Superpower in World History" be the one crashing atoms together like NASCAR autos and seeing all the mess that comes out of it? Now that I think about it, maybe…

USA is only the "greatest Superpower in World History" if you look at the power of its army. But that is the kind of minds that rule the country.

Also if you look at its economy which is arguably an even more important characteristic.
Post reply on HN