Will the World End this Summer?

This news really isn't new, but it is nonetheless scary. Some of you may know about the large particle accelerator that has been built in Geneva. This particle accelerator will be the world's largest and will use higher energies than any other particle accelerator. My understanding of what exactly goes on in a particle accelerator is limited, but I am aware of the concerns that have been raised by this particular one - named the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) (LHC website).

One of the concerns is that the operation of the LHC may (and I stress the word may) create a black hole - which would effectively destroy the earth. This concern is so large, that a lawsuit has been filed in an attempt to stop the LHC from becoming operational (which is set to happen sometime this summer, though I cannot find an exact date).

I would bet that nothing drastic will happen, but humans have made large mistakes with regards to proper safety precautions in the past that have cost many lives (lack of lifeboats on Titanic, Hydrogen gas in blimps come to mind) and I wouldn't completely rule out a disaster. I am a bit worried that maybe the doomsday prophets might be right on this one.

So let's hope we have more than a few months to live!