The worst written science article I've ever seen a journalist produce

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion critiques a Fox News article regarding the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and its potential to create black holes. Physicists Roberto Casadio, Sergio Fabi, and Benjamin Harms have re-evaluated the risks, concluding that microscopic black holes could persist longer than previously thought, possibly exceeding one second. The conversation highlights concerns about sensationalist journalism and the public's misunderstanding of scientific concepts related to particle physics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of particle physics, specifically concepts related to black holes.
  • Familiarity with the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and its operational principles.
  • Knowledge of scientific communication and the impact of media on public perception.
  • Awareness of recent research articles on black hole formation and risk assessment in particle physics.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of microscopic black holes as discussed in the papers by Casadio, Fabi, and Harms.
  • Explore the methodology of risk assessment in particle physics experiments, particularly at CERN.
  • Investigate the role of media in shaping public understanding of scientific advancements.
  • Learn about the latest findings in particle physics, including studies on anti-hydrogen and its implications.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physicists, science communicators, journalists covering scientific topics, and anyone interested in the intersection of science and media representation.

Lyuokdea
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The worst written science "article" I've ever seen a journalist produce

I'm just appalled, I don't even know what to say...I don't think this is even in a blog, it appears to actually be an article by fox news (and it came up on their main page)

I guess a second issue is...what do you do against such blatantly horrible journalism, and how do you respond to it?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,483477,00.html

Still worried that the Large Hadron Collider will create a black hole that will destroy the Earth when it's finally switched on this summer?

Um, well, you may have a point.

Three physicists have reexamined the math surrounding the creation of microscopic black holes in the Switzerland-based LHC, the world's largest particle collider, and determined that they won't simply evaporate in a millisecond as had previously been predicted.

Rather, Roberto Casadio of the University of Bologna in Italy and Sergio Fabi and Benjamin Harms of the University of Alabama say mini black holes could exist for much longer — perhaps even more than a second, a relative eternity in particle colliders, where most objects decay much faster.
~Lyuokdea
 
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Lyuokdea said:
If the worst comes to pass, and there's now a slightly greater chance that it might, at least it might explain why we've never heard from extraterrestrial civilizations: Maybe they built Large Hadron Colliders of their own.

~Lyuokdea
And destroyed the universe?... Wait! we're still here for now (we'll have to keep checking, I guess).
 


Please use the
tags.
 


turbo-1 said:
And destroyed the universe?... Wait! we're still here for now (we'll have to keep checking, I guess).

A black hole would not destroy the universe, just their planet, and, depending on conditions, their solar system.
 


I guess that is why they call it faux news!
 


This is old news, the chances of it creating a black hole are small, and even if it does they will by so minute as to have relatively little effect (I made a joke there, did you see?) :wink:

Silly journalists. Same thing happened when they produced anti-hydrogen. :rolleyes:
 


Fair & Balanced

Q.E.D
 


Cyrus said:
Fair & Balanced
pronounced: "fairly imbalanced"
 


The atom bomb supposedly would have had created a chain reaction, turning our planet into a inferno.
 
  • #10


Lyuokdea said:
I'm just appalled, I don't even know what to say...I don't think this is even in a blog, it appears to actually be an article by fox news (and it came up on their main page)

I guess a second issue is...what do you do against such blatantly horrible journalism, and how do you respond to it?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,483477,00.html
Still worried that the Large Hadron Collider will create a black hole that will destroy the Earth when it's finally switched on this summer?

Um, well, you may have a point.

Three physicists have reexamined the math surrounding the creation of microscopic black holes in the Switzerland-based LHC, the world's largest particle collider, and determined that they won't simply evaporate in a millisecond as had previously been predicted.

Rather, Roberto Casadio of the University of Bologna in Italy and Sergio Fabi and Benjamin Harms of the University of Alabama say mini black holes could exist for much longer — perhaps even more than a second, a relative eternity in particle colliders, where most objects decay much faster.
~Lyuokdea
I don't understand how this is the worst written "article" you've ever seen. It is a bit tongue-in-cheek, yes, but the article is likely reporting on a few research articles that came out this week regarding miscalculations in CERN's risk investigation.
http://arxiv.org/abs/0901.2948
http://arxiv.org/abs/0810.5515
 
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  • #11


Oh those scientists, never knowing what's right and what's wrong.

Faux News said:
We're also wondering how often the LHC might create individual black holes, since longer-lived ones have a greater chance of merging with each other, and, um, well, see ya.
 
  • #12


Until they have a binoculars to see people in real time, they will always confuse and get confused. :biggrin:
 

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