Is this it?

[HAL9000]

Is this the way the world ends - not with a bang but a whimper?

European Time-Warp Mystery

31st March 2010

Scientists throughout Europe are baffled by a strange new phenomenon: their atomic clocks have slipped out of synchronisation.

Extremely accurate atomic clocks are installed at various universities, astronomical observatories and research facilities throughout the world. They are often linked together to enhance their accuracy.

At least one research group is actively monitoring minute variations between atomic clocks, known as ?drift?, in an attempt to detect weak gravitational waves from collapsing black holes in outer space - Einstein?s Theory of General Relativity predicts that time slows down near black holes.

Engineers who maintain atomic clocks posted their concerns on an internet forum at the US National Physical Laboratory early this morning after Europe-wide time distortion was detected.

Unprecedented levels of drift appear to be centred on Geneva, Switzerland, ironically, a country famous for manufacturing accurate timepieces and chronometers. The greatest effect is found in clocks closest to the epicentre and declines in magnitude as one moves farther away.

Atomic clocks began to slow down yesterday, shortly after the troubled Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research near Geneva, was switched on at full power for the first time.

Scientists at CERN dismiss any link to their experiments. The head of public relations, Prof. Alid Loyas, said, ?We are certain that [the LHC] is not responsible. We have experienced no problems with our atomic clocks.?

Prof. John Frink, a vociferous critic of the LHC, said, ?Of course they can?t see any drift. All of their clocks have slowed down by the same amount. It is only when they are compared with clocks further away that the effect becomes noticeable. The experiment must be shut down now before it is too late.?

Critics have warned that the LHC could trigger the creation of a black hole in the Earth?s crust that would draw in the entire planet ? and then begin consuming its way through the solar system. Or worse. Much worse.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8593780.stm

http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=worries-about-lhc-black-hole-resurf-2009-01-29

 

[ruffers]

CERN and the LHC?

Webcams here - > http://www.cyriak.co.uk/lhc/lhc-webcams.html to check.

[Huguenot]

I love stories like this, because they're all about vanity and anthropocentrism.

In the biblical era it was all 'there is one God and he looks like me'.

In the modern era it's all 'we control the fabric of space/time'.

Both of the myths are the same at heart. They're saying it's about me me me me me me me. ;-)

[brum]

What's the date today?

[ratty]

Hexactly!

[brum]

...mind you, it may explain all the pot holes that have appeared in our roads!