Canadian Researchers Create Supernova In-lab

Erebus42 writes "Canada has done something neat. Apparently researchers at the University of British Columbia have created supernova in their ISAC (Isotope Seperator and Accelerator), transmuting sodium 21 into magnesium 22. Spiffy."

Comments

Could this be used in weapons development?

[skrowl]

If a country were able to make this portable enough to use in battle, could this be made into a type of weapon?

The rammifications of a portable supernova are chilling when you put in in Osama or Saddam's hands, no?

Except...

[Robber Baron]

Nova Scotia's on the other coast you butthead!

Melt Snow ?

[JohnHegarty]

They could use it to melt snow ? ... or something else , i am sure there is other things in canada... mabey melt snow ?

We get it, Canada

[Levine]

"Canada is now the world leader in this research," TRIUMF director Alan Shotter said after the breakthrough experiment
...
"We are pushing this technology to the absolute limits of what's possible."
...
With the completion of ISAC in 1999, TRIUMF became unequalled in the world in its ability to study nuclear astrophysics and element synthesis in the universe. The only other facility of its kind, in Geneva, sent congratulations Monday to the ISAC team that beat it to the finish line.
...
"The Americans are planning a similar facility and they expect it to cost $800 million US and take 10 years to build. So we're 10 years ahead," Schmor said.
...
"Canada is now leading the world in the field of nuclear astrophysics.
...
"We have bragging rights."

I swear, this article had more to say about Canada than the actual process or what it means. Okay, Canada! We get it! You guys rock! Next time we want some space magnesium, we'll know where to look. In the meantime, keep planting those trees.

Cheers,
levine

Re:We get it, Canada

[deglr6328]

Ugh, if you ask me Canadians are even more nauseatingly patriotic than us Americans. We've been doing nuclear astrophysics experiments for decades already and with cooler looking instruments too! ha! take that Canada!

Re:We get it, Canada

[crakrjak]

shouldn't patriotism be treated the same as racism and sexism?

What's the difference?

Slashdot is trolling you

[LS]

It still amazes me after all these years that so many people react to the Slashdot editors' trolls. A lot of articles posted to Slashdot are informative, but obviously as a corporate entity, Slashdot needs to attract the masses with sensationalist, trollish stories as well. There are at least three 5-rated posts in response to this story that it is exagerative.

This happens over and over. Do you think that the Slashdot editors are that stupid? No, they are smart, and they make a lot of money. If they keep it too tight and smart, a lot of people (read: lurkers, not the average poster) might get bored or scared away.

Why do you think there is no article moderation or ratings in this supposedly "open" community? All I'm saying is that you shouldn't waste so much energy on getting worked up over Slashdot's editing.

LS