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EU Scientists Working On Laser To Rip a Hole In Spacetime

Posted by samzenpus on from the what-could-possibly-go-wrong? dept.

astroengine writes "Those pesky physicists are at it again; they want to build a laser so powerful that it will literally rip spacetime apart. Why? To prove the existence of virtual particles in the quantum vacuum, potentially unravel extra dimensions and possibly find the root of dark matter. The $1.6 billion Extreme Light Infrastructure Ultra-High Field Facility (known as ELI) will be built somewhere in Europe by the end of the decade and physicists are hoping the ten high-powered lasers — delivering 200 petawatts of power at a target for less than a trillionth of a second — will turn up some surprises about the very fabric of the Universe."

7 of 575 comments (clear)

  1. Mandatory comment. by Dartz-IRL · · Score: 5, Funny

    Commencing Primary Ignition....

    Standby...

    Standby...

    --
    So there I was, scribbling down some notes off the PC screen by hand, when I reached for the keyboard and Ctrl-S'd.
    1. Re:Mandatory comment. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Note to self, buy crowbars.

  2. Re:Do NOT make a frickin laser beam joke by kenj0418 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Anybody caught making a Frickin' Sharks joke will be permanently labeled a virgin.

    If that happens, can I have all that child support I've paid refunded?

  3. It's all fun and games... by nategri · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... until the universe segfaults.

  4. Re:The Death Star by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...turning the Earth into the Death Star ...dark suits with funky helmets

    Aaaagh! I just had a Dick Cheney flashback!

  5. Truth stranger than fiction. by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 4, Funny

    will turn up some surprises about the very fabric of the Universe

    I'm guessing...plaid and flannel.

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  6. Come to Us, Great Cthulhu by afabbro · · Score: 3, Funny

    Let's rip up space and see what's underneath. What could go wrong?

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    Advice: on VPS providers