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LHC Shut Down By Transformer Malfunction

Posted by timothy on from the it's-only-broken-if-you-look dept.

Ortega-Starfire writes "A 30-ton transformer in the Large Hadron Collider malfunctioned, requiring complete replacement on the day the LHC came online. No one at CERN reported any problems, and they only released this data once the Associated Press sent people to investigate rumors of problems. I guess it's hard to just sweep a 30-ton transformer breaking under the rug."

22 of 293 comments (clear)

  1. Transformers... by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 5, Funny

    More than meets the eye! I guess the Decepticons don't want us to advance our knowledge!

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    Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    1. Re:Transformers... by inode_buddha · · Score: 5, Funny

      In deference to relativity, perhaps they are exploring another aspect of this?

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      C|N>K
    2. Re:Transformers... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      There, fixed that for you. Also, turn in your geek badge.

      There, fixed that for you. Also, turn in your English homework.

    3. Re:Transformers... by bsDaemon · · Score: 5, Funny

      You know, that very well may be the first time I've seen on Slashdot, where "there, fixed that for you," actually fixed an actual issue. Bravo, sir.

    4. Re:Transformers... by Capt+James+McCarthy · · Score: 4, Funny

      There, fixed that for you. Also, turn in your geek badge.

      Transformed.

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      There are no loopholes. It's either legal or it's not.
  2. A Transformer? by hemp · · Score: 4, Funny

    I bet it was Omegatron!

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  3. GORDON! by Kingrames · · Score: 4, Funny

    Gordon, what have you done?!?!?!

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    If you can read this, I forgot to post anonymously.
    1. Re:GORDON! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      http://www.shacknews.com/images/image-o-matic.x?/images/sshots/Screenshot/10698/10698_48c7161254f4d.jpg

      http://i35.tinypic.com/256fu4g.jpg

  4. sweep a 30-ton transformer breaking under the rug? by jcnnghm · · Score: 5, Funny

    It would be hard to sweep a 30-ton transformer under a rug, unless there is a black hole under said rug.

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    You don't make the poor richer by making the rich poorer. - Winston Churchill
  5. One transformer down... by mikiN · · Score: 5, Funny

    several to go.

    Well ALICE, let's see how deep the budget hole goes...

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    The Hacker's Guide To The Kernel: Don't panic()!
  6. Re:Why the tone in the summary? by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 5, Funny

    I appreciate the fact that they have set up some live web cams so you can see what's going on at the facility.

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    Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
  7. Reminder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just in case anyone else misread the headline, there's a vas deferens between the Large Hadron Collider and the Large Hardon Collider.

    1. Re:Reminder by evanbd · · Score: 5, Funny

      You know, this is slashdot. The least you could do is provide a link.

  8. Re:Not the end of the world... by OneIfByLan · · Score: 4, Funny

    Lipstick.

  9. Is the speed of light slower near Lyons by bornwaysouth · · Score: 5, Funny
    The transformer failure is just one of those things. But, according to the article..

    After it was started up Sept. 10, scientists circled a beam of protons in a clockwise direction at the speed of light. They shut that down, then turned on a counterclockwise beam.

    Now, accelerating a proton to the speed of light seems to me impossible, given that they are in a vacuum. But if they can do that, then the other interpretation is possible. It was the scientists who were circling at the speed of light, round say, a little beaker of protons. I'd like to commend whoever shut them down, then anti-beamed them to restore reality.

  10. Re:sweep a 30-ton transformer breaking under the r by Alwin+Henseler · · Score: 5, Funny

    True, but if they're real scientists they'd figure out it's easier to sweep the black hole under the 30-ton transformer. When done, cover up with rug.

  11. morethanmeetstheeye by workbench · · Score: 4, Funny

    I used to come to slashdot for the summaries. Then the community grew and it was the comments that drew me here. But now, I just come for the tags.

    You folks crack me up.

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    1. Re:morethanmeetstheeye by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Something insightful.

    2. Re:morethanmeetstheeye by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      something insightful PLEASE

  12. Re:sweep a 30-ton transformer breaking under the r by jmichaelg · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't know how you do it. It never works for me.

      I could've sworn I left my favorite rug on top of the black hole in the living room the other day but, crazy as it sounds, it seems to have just disappeared. I'd swear on a stack of bibles that's where I left the dang thing and you know it didn't just grow legs and walk out of the house.
     

  13. Re:Why the tone in the summary? by ScreamingCactus · · Score: 5, Funny

    They're not trying to cover up a broken transformer - they're trying to cover up the tiny black hole that formed in the transformers, and is growing exponentially.

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    The path to enlightenment is truly through homemade drugs!
  14. Re:Why the tone in the summary? by shma · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... trying to make a big deal out of something small.

    I was just thinking that this is the most concise way of describing a particle physicist's job.

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