>>>when
worlds collide
. the world's top scientists are celebrating successful smashing of
subatomic particles
at the $9 billion
super collider
in geneva. researchers are trying to create the
big bang
conditions that led to the
creation of the universe
13
billion years ago
. here to explain what this all means is
hofstra university
's chairman of the physics department. dr. hastings, this is a huge facility, what are they trig to do?
>>trying to unlock several mysteries of the universe. one is interesting, still around. we all understand whatographerity is. we know about weight and mass. physicists don't really understand gravity as it functions within what they call the
standard model
,
quantum theory
and physics. one thing is to understandographerity. another thing is to understand some of the mysteries of
dark matter
and
dark energy
. the thing is to explore physics where we can look for these things. you can look at this as part of human's exploration towards interspace.
>>is there any chance -- i hate to even ask this. it's a concern for some people out there who don't follow physics, this could create a gigantic
black hole
or destroy the planet in one fell swoop. is there a chance of that, if we don't know what's happening there?
>>not at all. the energies there are huge. they are the highest energies achieved by a fairly large factor, but they are very small compared to the energies of
cosmic rays
that strike us every day. the earth is still after 5 billion years. no, this cannot in any sense destroy the world. it might shake up some scientists views about how the universe works if we don't find the particle you referred to early as the
god particle
. but there's no chance of anything going wrong in terms of a
black hole
.
>>doctor hastings, thanks so much for coming on and trying to explain it to some of us nonphysicists. we appreciate you coming on today. good to see you.
Two Roman-era shipwrecks have been found in deep water off a western Greek island, challenging the conventional theory that ancient shipmasters stuck to coastal routes rather than risking the open sea, an official said Tuesday.
