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Northern Bright Lights

Posted by michael on from the spf-5000 dept.

Gn0M3KInG writes "CBC Canada is reporting that the largest Canadian science project in 30 years, a $174 million synchrotron is about to be fired up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Canada - duh!). This little device is capable of generating light millions of times brighter than the sun, and is the first of it's kind in North America. Looks like this could lead to some VERY cool research developments like creating better microchips, and watching living cells react to drugs (amongst others)."

4 of 57 comments (clear)

  1. Hmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Is CBC Canada like BBC Great Britain?

  2. Thrust by Profane+MuthaFucka · · Score: 2, Interesting

    So what is the thrust of a light source millions of times brighter than the sun? Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

    --
    Fascism trolls keeping me up every night. When I starts a preachin', he HITS ME WITH HIS REICH!
    1. Re:Thrust by Fortran+IV · · Score: 2, Interesting

      If you're thinking "solar sail" (synchrotron sail?), then think of this: A light source 10 million times brighter than the Sun would still have to be about 440 km in diameter to have the same light output as the Sun. I doubt Canada is yet ready to build such a large installation.

      If on the other hand you're thinking of an Angel's Pencil laser drive: IANA physicist, and I'm frankly over my head with this.
      --
      I figure by 2030 or so my 6-digit UID will be something to brag about.
  3. Re:Runs on Red Hat Linux by WasteOfAmmo · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Yes, we run Red Hat Linux on many of the servers both over at the CLS and here on the rest of campus. Our Computer Science dept. also runs Mandrake Linux in many of the undergrad labs.

    We currently license Mandrake so that all students on campus may download the distros from us. We also license MSDN for our Computer Science students.

    Incidently, CLS/UofS also runs Win2k3, various distros of Linux, Solaris, etc., etc. It is not so much of a case of OS religious wars as it is of using the right tool for the right job. The "right tool" is defined by the requirments of the project (which of course includes licensing costs as well as tech req.).

    bottom line: there is nothing wonderful and new to see here. These are not OS war propaganda materials your looking for. Just real IT people solving real IT problems using all available tools. Please move on.

    Merlin.