CERN's Large Hadron Collider started -- are we still here? (updated with video)

Hello? Tap, tap, tap, this thing on?

CERN's $9 billion, 17-mile long atom smasher was just turned on and we're awaiting reports on how the tests have gone. The Large Hadron Collider did experience "small electrical problems" overnight. However, these were not expected to delay the first test firing at 9:30am CEST. As such, the clockwise and counter-clockwise firing of particles should already be in progress.

Remember, no smashing will be done today, for that we'll have to wait until later this month. We'll update you here as things progress.

09:49 -- Confirmed, the first beam of protons has been fired! It took 48-seconds for the pulse to generate and then a tiny flash of light on a computer screen indicated a successful firing around the first 3-km of the 27-km ring -- they will methodically extend the range throughout the day.

10:25 -- The beam just completed the full ring (in stages) in less than an hour. Things are going much more quickly than expected. Counterclockwise test next.

12:18 -- CERN estimates that the LHC will be fully operational for physics work in the next few months. Added NASA-like video of the reaction to the full-loop, first beam success after the break (watch for two flashes on the left-most screen).

Note: Insert, the following string into VLC to watch live: mms://qstream-live.qbrick.com/00862live80910

Read -- small electrical issues
Read -- webcast (currently down)
Read -- First beam fired

[RDB @ Sep 10th 2008 3:50AM]

I think I'm still here, you?

[Kizorblade @ Sep 10th 2008 3:52AM]

Nope. I'm not here.

[lu1de @ Sep 10th 2008 4:01AM]

I'm sorta here. I'm watching the Apple Keynote

[LondonConsultant @ Sep 10th 2008 4:09AM]

I can confirm the UK still exists but, with Gordon Brown in charge, it hasn't got long...

[ntlam @ Sep 10th 2008 4:28AM]

when Pepsi starts to sponsored LHC? lol.

[ShingiLana @ Sep 10th 2008 4:48AM]

Whats happening - I CAN'T GET INTO ANYTHING
SOMEONE PLEASE UPDATE ME

OH YES - I AM STILL HERE IN SUNNY JOHANNESBURG

[mmmoon @ Sep 10th 2008 5:37AM]

I don't know if I'm still here, but I do know who is still there: http://i34.tinypic.com/33e31c9.jpg

:)

I feel safe.. ;)

[Freakin Ijit @ Sep 10th 2008 6:12AM]

Why does the display on my monitor keep twisting counterclockwise?

[j_g_puff @ Sep 10th 2008 6:40AM]

Those of you worth your geek-salt will have already read this, but for the benefit of lesser geeks, follow this link:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/10/lhc_day_is_not_today/

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Sep 10th 2008 7:53AM]

This thing got me Laid, I told this hot chick that today would possibly be the end of everything and asked to have some sexy time fun and she said yes. And I thought I wasn't going to get LAID this summer. Thanks LHC!! keep smashing those particles cause it helps me lots. I made something else "Collide" last night. Thanks again.

[thedesolate1 @ Sep 10th 2008 8:40AM]

My fingers tips are disintegrating and going into another dimension even as I type.

[rv @ Sep 10th 2008 9:38AM]

First of all noone said the black holes would swallow the earth instantly... If you have done any research at all you will know it will take years to even notice the black holes because they start out so small and gather mass very slowly...

[Steven @ Sep 10th 2008 9:46AM]

reporting from Belgium: just checked and everything still seems to be here. Or there. Except I can't find my socks, but I don't think we can blame CERN for that.

[siriusfox @ Sep 10th 2008 11:07AM]

They haven't actually started collisions guys. The conspiracy theorists aren't going away until that happens.

[AustinAG @ Sep 10th 2008 3:17PM]

Here is really helpful website that elaborates on the subject: http://www.hasthelargehadroncolliderdestroyedtheworldyet.com/

[Timmy P. @ Sep 10th 2008 5:04PM]

@ RV
Thats the point. They can not tell that they are there for a long period of time, and some people (conspiracy theorists) believe that a black hole, noticed or unnoticed, could some how throw off the Earths gravitation somehow. Now I'm not a Physicist or anything but that seems just as bad as being eaten by a black hole, and I dont know much more about this topic so do be to mad, after all we all "stand of the shoulders of giants".

[Jherez @ Sep 10th 2008 8:13PM]

So I guess Chuck Norris is there to kick all manner of headcrab ass.

[Steve @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:37PM]

were all still here because CERN HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN!!!!!!!

http://digg.com/general_sciences/CERN_Supercollider_SHUTDOWN

[DeathroW22 @ Sep 10th 2008 3:51AM]

They've been sucked into the black hole, hence the reason the screen is black.

[hungry @ Sep 10th 2008 3:52AM]

honestly what could this thing do it's not gonna make a black hole but if u fell inn and started going that fast...

[JJ @ Sep 10th 2008 12:12PM]

Punctuation my friend... commas love you.

[Lazerface @ Sep 10th 2008 6:31PM]

i think his commas are the first casualty of the LHC

[rony @ Sep 10th 2008 3:54AM]

greetings this is wall-e...........

[YasirJ @ Sep 10th 2008 3:54AM]

I'm dissapearing into the abyss :3

[TRLK @ Sep 10th 2008 3:55AM]

It's actually 26 km
Metric FTW

[Steven @ Sep 10th 2008 6:44AM]

26 659 m. If you want to nitpick, at least do it properly.

[hungry @ Sep 10th 2008 3:58AM]

oh on the history channel there is a show about this if u get u don't vaporize u it's touch ur dead:)

[KarlW @ Sep 10th 2008 4:07AM]

What? I got the first part of that sentence, but then it sort of tailed off in to those random grunts you make in your sleep

Or were you actually being vapourised whilst typing?

[Endejas @ Sep 10th 2008 4:12AM]

It's actually a funny quote.

Announcer: "So what happens if you were to get hit by the beam [of photons, or something]? Would you vaporize?"

CERN Physicist: "No, you'd just die. Fairly quickly."

[Josh @ Sep 10th 2008 4:01AM]

This stream works if you're interested: http://wwwc.aftonbladet.se/special/webbtv/wmlive/wmp6.html

[EPR @ Sep 10th 2008 4:10AM]

You can use VLC to open the stream
mms://qstream-live.qbrick.com/00862live80910

Tried it and it worked.

[jakem @ Sep 10th 2008 4:13AM]

BBC Radio 4 is also streaming live from the LHC today: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/

[ED @ Sep 10th 2008 7:08AM]

Don't cross the streams!

[vriffpolo @ Sep 10th 2008 4:03AM]

Then why didn't they call it the Large Boson Collider?

[NightBlade @ Sep 10th 2008 4:10AM]

Because it collides hadrons, not bosons. Bosons are the results of the collisions.

[Smileypanda @ Sep 10th 2008 4:08PM]

Duuhh!!

[Scott @ Sep 11th 2008 2:57AM]

Dolly Parton has access to the Large Bosom Collider.

[Detox @ Sep 10th 2008 4:03AM]

Pewpew!

[TheCow5 @ Sep 10th 2008 4:04AM]

Which will be best for us all?
When they create a small black hole which grows exponentially and destroy us all or when fail every time they try.

[Viaono @ Sep 10th 2008 4:05AM]

iSpidey and Superzune will save the world!

[Pete @ Sep 10th 2008 4:13AM]

Gordon Freeman?

Prepare for unforeseen consequences...

[Spiderman @ Sep 10th 2008 9:06AM]

Oh come on they don't want the world t know if something does go wrong because it would create fear in people and then god only knows what people would do in numbers if they w scared... Look ive seen The Mist as many of us have & yes please roll your eyes... they said it could lead t the discovery of different dimensions but what if they open a damn door by mistake & they can't close the damn thing then what :( thr is no telling what will happen or what has already happen & im sure if it hasn't happen yet im sure something will before it becomes a big problem but when it does we are all going t pay for what these idiots are doing which is playing around like thr GODS..... These guys are opening Pandora's Box!!! :( May God help us all if thr wrong.... The Unknown should be left the unknown if its for the safety of The Human race :(

[Cary @ Sep 10th 2008 4:15AM]

Pretty scary that the webcast went down right after launch, isnt it?

[captain underpants and the bringdown gang @ Sep 10th 2008 5:20AM]

objects with mass cannot be accelerated to the speed of light.

[David @ Sep 10th 2008 4:17AM]

When this thing starts colliding protons at the speed of light next month, it will destroy us.

Cherish your final moments with your loved ones....

[David @ Sep 10th 2008 4:18AM]

once this thing starts colliding protons next month, it will be the end of us.

Cherish your final remaining moments with your loved ones...

[Adoniteking @ Sep 10th 2008 4:21AM]

Imagine if this gives some sort of definite answer to human existence...damn religion will be pissed cos they wouldn't be able to evade taxes no more.

[Jason @ Sep 10th 2008 7:42AM]

This can't disprove any religious beliefs because nothing can. Its impossible to prove that something does not exist, you can only prove that things do exist. i.e. a ghost, if i see one thats proof that it does exist but if i never see one that just means i never saw one; not that it does not exist. So religion will continue to evade taxes.... They really did think it through when they made it up so i gotta give em some credit, lol.

[schmitty338 @ Sep 10th 2008 9:05AM]

AMEN JASON!

wait.......

[3dpenguin @ Sep 10th 2008 11:47AM]

"Now it is such a bizarrely improbable coincidence that anything so mind-bogglingly useful could have evolved purely by chance that some thinkers have chosen to see it as a final and clinching proof of the non-existence of God. The argument goes something like this:
"I refuse to prove that I exist," says God, "for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing."

"But," says Man, "the Babel fish is a dead giveaway isn't it? It could not have evolved by chance. It proves that You do exist, and so therefore, by Your own arguments, You don't. Q.E.D."

"Oh dear," says God, "I hadn't thought of that," and promptly vanishes in a puff of logic."

About the Babel Fish and God - Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy