fuckyeahspace:

fuckyeahphysics:

On March 19 CERN reached an all-time energy record, managing to fire up two separate proton beans in opposite directions at 3.5 trillion electron volts (TeV). That’s huge. That amount of energy is equivalent to the energy created by a fully-loaded aircraft carrier going 8 knots (about 9 mph). In comparison, the next most powerful accelerator—the Tevatron at Fermilab in Illinois—can reach a maximum of nearly 1 TeV. Well, now CERN is stepping up its game. In the early hours of March 30 they’ll begin working the two proton beams into a collision course, reaching a new record of 7 TeV.

Steve Myers, CERN’s director for accelerators and technology, describes the challenge of lining up the beams as being akin to “firing needles across the Atlantic and getting them to collide half way.”

The scientists are looking for clues to the Higgs-Boson, the proverbial blank spot in the standard model of physics, the particle which allegedly gives mass to all the matter in the universe. They’re also looking for clues about the nature of dark matter and dark energy. Please direct all black hole questions to the right.

Today’s offering  

Perfect

13 years ago Bob was smitten by Nadine. Deep in the bushes of a foot path down the sheer drop beside a drainage ditch waterfall on the way to Wreck Beach he professed his love for the ages. A public declaration, but also a private one so far off the main trail. The dichotomy of the carving perplexes me.

Was Nadine present while Bob carved? Did he linger while she went on ahead to the “clothing optional” beach? Did they ever return to this spot? Was it true love? What became of this love?  Is this carving remembered? Is it spoken of in moments of wistful nostalgic reflection? Such things rarely last but here is an example of our desire for “Forever” in the face of an ever changing world.

Fuck Yeah!

via cache.gawker.com

Mossy Rock on the forest floor in late winter.

Window to the Soul?