The ALICE experiment at CERN's Large Hadron Collider has observed the transformation of lead nuclei into gold. This doesn't involve alchemy, but rather a natural, albeit rare, radioactive decay process. When lead ions collide in the LHC, they can lose a proton, resulting in an isotope of gold. This gold nucleus is unstable and quickly decays further, but its brief existence has been confirmed by ALICE through precision measurements of the particle's momentum and mass-to-charge ratio. This observation provides valuable data for understanding the nuclear structure of heavy ions and the processes occurring during high-energy collisions.
CERN has released a conceptual design report detailing the feasibility of the Future Circular Collider (FCC), a proposed successor to the Large Hadron Collider. The FCC would be a much larger and more powerful collider, with a circumference of 91-100 kilometers, capable of reaching collision energies of 100 TeV. The report outlines the technical challenges and potential scientific breakthroughs associated with such a project, which would significantly expand our understanding of fundamental physics, including the Higgs boson, dark matter, and the early universe. The ambitious project is estimated to cost around €24 billion and would involve several phases, starting with an electron-positron collider followed by a proton-proton collider in the same tunnel. The report serves as a roadmap for future discussions and decisions about the next generation of particle physics research.
HN commenters discuss the immense cost and potential scientific return of the proposed Future Circular Collider (FCC). Some express skepticism about the project's justification, given its price tag and the lack of guaranteed breakthroughs. Others argue that fundamental research is crucial for long-term progress and that the FCC could revolutionize our understanding of the universe. Several comments compare the FCC to the SSC, a similar project canceled in the US, highlighting the political and economic challenges involved. The potential for technological spin-offs and the inspirational value of such ambitious projects are also mentioned. A few commenters question the timing, suggesting that resources might be better spent on more immediate global issues like climate change.
The CERN article is a humorous April Fool's Day piece. It satirically reports the "discovery" of quantum entanglement between sheep, attributing their flocking behavior to this quantum phenomenon. The article uses pseudo-scientific jargon and fabricated quotes to maintain the joke, while subtly referencing real physics concepts like Bell's inequality and quantum superposition. Ultimately, the article's purpose is lighthearted entertainment, not a genuine scientific announcement.
Hacker News users expressed significant skepticism about the linked article claiming quantum entanglement in sheep. Several commenters pointed out that the study measured correlations in sheep physiology, which could easily be explained by classical physics, like shared environmental factors. They argued that the article misrepresents or misunderstands the concept of quantum entanglement, and there's no evidence presented to suggest anything beyond classical correlations. Some users criticized the sensationalist headline and the poor quality of science reporting in general. A few commenters questioned the journal's credibility and the peer review process. Overall, the consensus was that the claim of quantum entanglement in sheep is unsubstantiated.
The article "A bestiary of exotic hadrons" explores the burgeoning field of exotic hadron discoveries. Beyond the conventional meson and baryon structures, physicists are increasingly finding particles with more complex quark configurations, such as tetraquarks and pentaquarks. These discoveries, facilitated by experiments like LHCb, are challenging existing quark models and prompting the development of new theoretical frameworks to explain these exotic particles' structures, properties, and their roles within the broader landscape of quantum chromodynamics. The article highlights specific examples of newly observed exotic hadrons and discusses the ongoing debates surrounding their interpretations, emphasizing the vibrant and evolving nature of hadron spectroscopy.
HN commenters generally express fascination with the complexity and strangeness of exotic hadrons. Some discuss the challenges in detecting and classifying these particles, highlighting the statistical nature of the process and the difficulty in distinguishing true signals from background noise. A few commenters dive deeper into the theoretical aspects, mentioning QCD, quark confinement, and the potential for future discoveries. Others draw parallels to other scientific fields like biology, marveling at the "zoo" of particles and the constant evolution of our understanding. Several express appreciation for the clear and accessible writing of the CERN Courier article, making the complex topic understandable to a wider audience. One commenter questions the practical applications of this research, prompting a discussion about the fundamental nature of scientific inquiry and its unpredictable long-term benefits.
Summary of Comments ( 284 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43937214
Several commenters on Hacker News expressed skepticism about the title's phrasing, clarifying that the process described in the article involves creating a very small amount of gold from lead for an extremely short period, and that it is not a viable method for producing gold. They point out that the energy cost far exceeds the value of the gold produced. Some discussed the nuclear physics involved, explaining the difference between nuclear fission and fusion, and how this experiment relates to neither. The impracticality of the process for gold production was a recurring theme. Others mentioned the difficulties of separating the gold from the lead target, further emphasizing the lack of practical application. A few comments jokingly referred to alchemy, contrasting the reality of the experiment with the historical pursuit of transmuting base metals into gold.
The Hacker News post titled "ALICE detects the conversion of lead into gold at the LHC" has generated several comments discussing the linked article about the ALICE experiment at CERN. The discussion mainly revolves around the practicality and efficiency of using this method for gold production, the nature of the nuclear reactions involved, and the historical context of alchemy.
Several commenters point out that the amount of gold produced in this experiment is incredibly tiny and the process is incredibly energy-intensive, making it completely impractical for actual gold production. They emphasize that the energy cost vastly outweighs the value of the minuscule amount of gold created. One commenter humorously calculates that the electricity bill for producing a noticeable quantity of gold this way would be astronomical.
Some comments delve into the specifics of the nuclear reaction. They explain that this isn't true "alchemy" in the traditional sense, as it doesn't involve transmuting lead into gold through chemical means. Instead, it's a nuclear physics process involving high-energy collisions that strip protons from lead nuclei, resulting in a small probability of creating gold isotopes. This process, they explain, is more akin to nuclear fission or fusion than the chemical transformations sought by alchemists.
A few comments highlight the historical context, mentioning the long-standing human fascination with transmuting base metals into gold and the historical pursuit of alchemy. They note the irony that while physicists can now technically achieve this transformation, it's completely impractical and serves no real purpose other than scientific understanding.
One commenter questions the phrasing of the title, suggesting it's misleading because it implies a large-scale conversion. They argue that the title should emphasize the minuscule amounts and the purely scientific nature of the observation.
There's a brief discussion on the potential applications of the research. While gold production is ruled out, some suggest that the understanding gained from studying these high-energy nuclear reactions could have implications for other areas of nuclear physics or materials science. However, no specific applications are discussed in detail.
Finally, a few comments offer corrections or clarifications to previous comments, ensuring the scientific accuracy of the discussion. For example, one comment clarifies the specific isotopes of lead and gold involved in the reaction.