Lots of discussion lately at work about the Large Hadron Collider experiment that is going on and whether the end of the world is near. As with all science experiments there are variables (ha! I remembered something from school!) and some outcomes that may not necessarily be in line with what was originally hypothesized. For those of us that are not knowledgable about protons and electrons and magnets, the most we can do is speculate and read the internet. Personally I'm sure it's mostly safe and after billions of dollars are spent and people pray that they live through it, it might answer a few questions that have plagued man for centuries. 'Course, Stephen Hawking has 110 bucks against that....

(from technewsworld.com)

Here's the real deal: There is a very small chance, scientists say, that the LHC could theoretically create a black hole. Even on that off-chance, though, the hole would be too small and short-lasting to pose any actual danger. What's more, the collider isn't doing anything that's not already happening in nature; it's just doing it in a more controlled and observable environment. In effect, then, if what the LHC is doing would end the Earth, the Earth would have been ended ages ago by Mother Nature.

"There are multiple layers of safety," Steve Giddings, professor of physics at UC Santa Barbara, told TechNewsWorld. "It's been a little bit surprising -- this has all been played up more than is justified," he commented.

Fittingly, almost any scientist you ask will tell you the same thing: There is absolutely no reason to prepare for a doomsday (unless, of course, that's just your idea of a nice afternoon).

"Almost all of my coworkers won't even take that possibility seriously, because it's just not realistic from what we know from basic quantum mechanics," Giddings pointed out.

So relax, guys. The science guys think its all good... so it must be, right?!... Right?!!!