Chewie! Make the jump to light speed!
"One short trip for a proton, but one giant leap for mankind!" said Nigel S. Lockyer, Director of Canada’s TRIUMF laboratory, discussing the successful steering of a proton beam around the Large Hadron Collider earlier today. The LHC, a 27 kilometer long particle accelerator at CERN in Switzerland, was "switched on" today and a proton beam was shot through the collider at very near the speed of light. Later this year, scientists are going to begin experiments searching for subatomical particles and perhaps a unifying theory of physics so physicists around the world are very excited about today's events.
This historic event marks a key moment in the transition from over two decades of preparation to a new era of scientific discovery.
CERN Press Release – First beam in the LHC - accelerating science
Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking is very excited about the LHC. He has devoted his career to researching black holes and might be able to test some of his theories if the collider creates microscopic black holes, which many scientists consider a possibility.
In Hawking's words, the Large Hadron Collider, which officially starts tomorrow with its "first beam" through the entire 27-kilometer collider, is "vital if the human race is not to stultify and eventually die out."
Comments
Harry Potter Postponed
I am outraged that the sixth Harry Potter movie has been postponed until July. Along with many other fans I have anticipated the sixth movie with overbearing excitement. I believe this could be the best of the resent movies.
The sixth instalment in the franchise was scheduled to hit cinemas on November 21, but fans will now have to wait until July 2009, says The Hollywood Reporter.
Harry Potter Postponed
After finishing the seven book series I have looked forward to each movie more and more. Now that there are no more books to stand in line for at 2 O' clock in the morning the movies have stolen my attention. I find it terribly disappointing that after seeing the previews for the movie and becoming all the more excited that the movie would simply be postponed for eight months.
"We agreed the best strategy was to move Half-Blood Prince to July, where it perfectly fills the gap for a major tentpole release for midsummer."
Harry Potter Postponed
I don't believe the movie would get anymore money opening in the summer. So many fans of Harry Potter look forward to the movies that it really wouldn't matter when they open the outcome would be outstanding. It disturbs me that the reasons for postponement are so trivial. The movie is ready so lets see it.
The studio still intends to make a two-film adaptation of series finale Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, the first of which will open on November 19, 2010.
Harry Potter Postponed
Why is the seventh movie, or should i say movies, opening in November and the sixth can't? November is just the perfect season for Harry Potter. It just sets the mood so nicely.
I think it was a very tacky decision to postpone the movie after the previews had been shown. This misleading action leaves me with the feeling that the producers and directors don't care about the viewing public. I have, along with other fans I'm sure, definitely lost respect and admiration for the whole department.
Warner president Alan Horn said the decision was taken to guarantee the studio a major summer blockbuster in 2009, and was partially explained by the Hollywood writer's strike, which paralysed the movie industry this year. 'Like every other studio, we are still feeling the repercussions of the writers' strike, which impacted the readiness of scripts for other films - changing the competitive landscape for 2009 and offering new windows of opportunity that we wanted to take advantage of', Mr Horn said. 'We agreed the best strategy was to move Half-Blood Prince to July, where it perfectly fills the gap for a major tent pole release for mid-summer'. A 'tent pole' movie is usually a big-budget, heavily promoted film relied on by a studio to turn a profit rapidly. Horn said a summer release date would benefit box office revenues, citing the most recent Harry Potter film, the second-highest grossing film in the franchise after the first instalment.
Breaking News
The good news (for fans) is that the gap will now be shortened between Half-Blood Prince and the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows', Robinov said.
Breaking News
Yes it is true the gap will be shortened, but we now have to wait longer for the sixth movie. I guess on the bright side this lengthens the time of the importance of Harry Potter to the average muggle. I admit it was depressing to know that the last book was out and there would be no more, so at least the movies keep Harry alive in society.