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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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'Big Bang' Machine Switched On, We're Still Here

Feared planet-devouring black hole fortunately fails to materialize

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(Newser) – The Large Hadron Collider was switched on today and the world did not end, as some doomsayers predicted, Reuters reports. Scientists at CERN in Switzerland now plan to use the giant particle-smashing machine to recreate the conditions of the Big Bang and shed light on the origins of the universe. Interest in the experiments soared after doomsday writers predicted the machine could spawn a black hole and destroy the world.

This is the magnet core of the world's largest superconducting solenoid magnet at the Large Hadron Collider particle accelerator.
This is the magnet core of the world's largest superconducting solenoid magnet at the Large Hadron Collider particle accelerator.   (AP Photo/Keystone, Martial Trezzini, file)
A general view of the island Super Proton Synchrotron of the CERN Control Center in Prevessin, France, at the Swiss border.
A general view of the island Super Proton Synchrotron of the CERN Control Center in Prevessin, France, at the Swiss border.   (AP Photo/Keystone, Salvatore Di Nolfi)
Visitors stand in front of the ATLAS detector during open day at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN.
Visitors stand in front of the ATLAS detector during open day at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN.   (AP Photo/Keystone, Salvatore Di Nolfi)
CERN scientists applaud during the switch on operation of the Large Hadron Collider , the world's largest particle collider, at the CERN's control center in Geneva, Switzerland.
CERN scientists applaud during the switch on operation of the Large Hadron Collider , the world's largest particle collider, at the CERN's control center in Geneva, Switzerland.   (AP Photo/Fabrice Coffrini, Pool)
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There are two emotions, the pleasure of completing a great task and the hope of great discoveries ahead of us. - CERN Director General Robert Aymar

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