Photo: Worst Case: Collider Spawns Planet-Devouring Black Hole

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Charged particles might follow paths like these colored tracks shown in a computer simulation if a miniature black hole is created in the Large Hadron Collider.

Critics have sought to stop the atom smasher out of fear that it might spawn an Earth-devouring black hole. The general consensus among physicists, however, is that the collider—which will begin operation on September 10, 2008—is safe.


Illustration courtesy CERN

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