The LHC “nightmare scenario” has come true (opens in new tab)

(backreaction.blogspot.com)

27 pointsdegio9y ago15 comments

15 comments

15 comments · 10 top-level

TickleSteve9y ago· 4 in thread

Isn't this really the "dream" scenario??

The current state is that we have evidence that the current theories are not correct which leaves a gap for new theories to fill.

Sounds like an exciting area to be working in right now if you ask me (unfortunately, I'm not!).

GolDDranks9y ago

We know that the current theories aren't correct anyway. Or more accurately, they are correct only in low-energy conditions, and can't say anything about high-energy conditions.

This is "nightmare scenario" because we knew that the theories aren't correct, but we hoped for some results that would guide and inspire new theories. Either way we know that we aren't done yet, but the current state is like being in a featureless void, unable to know where to direct one's efforts.

Or so I have heard.

TickleSteve9y ago

...so we should expect a period of wild speculation in physics with some fairly interesting experimentation to prove (or falsify) those theories.

(I'm not a physicist), but is it possible to almost automate some of the discovery process to attempt to turn up new leads? (or is the search-space too large for this to be reasonable?).

gaius9y ago

It's a nightmare because the last 50 years of science have led to a dead end, with no clue as to the next path to take.

Chris20489y ago

Maybe the new physics will allow anti-gravity sneakers? Not such a nightmare after all...

emp_zealoth9y ago· 1 in thread

Over the years I was slowly beginning to become convinced that the abstractions of relativistic model are just not compatible with all other models we have. Not negating the correctness of it's results, but I kinda think that it should be redefined so it conforms better with the rest of the models. Alas, it has become de facto a state religion and any attempts at discussion about it end up with being laughed at

gus_massa9y ago

Are you talking about special relativity or general relativity?

Special relativity and quantum mechanics were joined by Dirac in 1928 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirac_equation

General relativity is apparently more difficult, and we don't have a quantum version yet.

andrelaszlo9y ago

Discussion from a couple of days ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12238197

mrweasel9y ago

Wasn't the nightmare scenario that the LHC would create a black hole that would swallow the entire solar system?

The case of no new physics "just" mean that they'll have to start looking else where. Their job just got a little harder, and while I can appreciate how annoying that can be, it's hardly a nightmare.

codeulike9y ago

Seeing this headline makes me think a black hole has been created and we're all going to die. Thankfully, this is not the case.

edit: LHC webcams, interesting: http://www.cyriak.co.uk/lhc/lhc-webcams.html

return09y ago

> We’ve maneuvered ourselves into a dead end by relying on aesthetic guidance to decide which experiments are the most promising.

What other alternatives are there?

Also, i wonder , now that LHC has become "boring" , what options are there for repurposing it?

matt40779y ago

I was a bit scared considering some people earnestly feared the LHC could create a black hole.

mard9y ago

The true nightmare scenario will become true when advancing from plateau of scientific advancements will become too hard for human minds. Maybe it's impossible for people to comprehend or navigate in ideas located above some level of complexity, the same way most animals can't notice themselves in a mirror. So far our progress has been quite impressive, but what if there's some sort of human "Moore's Law" for science, where further advancements without AI will be close to impossible?

kristianp9y ago

Also last month on her blog: Why the LHC is such a disappointment: A delusion by name “naturalness”.

http://backreaction.blogspot.com.au/2016/07/why-lhc-is-such-...

nbevans9y ago

There are no nightmares in physics and science. There is only further intrigue.

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