Can someone explain to me please?

Question

How it is that the planet Jupiter doesn't have enough mass to initiate a fusion reaction at its core thereby turning it into a star, and our own Sun doesn't have enough mass to even begin, never mind sustain, the gravity condition that causes what we call a black hole, yet we actually have people......educated people......on this planet that are CERTAIN that this Large Hadron Collider will create a black hole that will destroy the Earth. 

There isn't enough energy on a hundred Earths, several dozen Jupiters, or obviously even our own Sun to create a black hole, so my question is....

 Why do people insist on using "junk science" or other absurd premises to try to scare the hell out of people, when there is nothing to be gained or lost from it?

I mean you could understand people doing that for financial or political gain, because at the core people are corrupt and dishonest, but what about when there is nothing in it for anybody. I cannot find an explanation for that aside from irrational, uneducated fear, or mental or emotional illness. If anyone can help me grasp this little problem I would be grateful. I must be missing something.

PRyder2000 · Accepted Answer

It's a good theory you have there, but let me just point out something that will make you think:

Although the mass of Jupiter is not enough to generate enough gravitational energy to initiate a fusion reaction, we have indeed created fusion reactions on earth. Now according to your hypothesis, there isn't enough energy on the planet to do this. So how does that work?

The answer is that gravitational energy is weak. We can use electricity and magnetism, which is much stronger, and apply huge amounts of energy to tiny, subatomic particles. The energy DENSITY becomes so much more than that on Jupiter, hence a fusion reaction occurs. ("Density" being the key word here!)

If you increase the energy density even further, then you will achieve the same results as you achieve in high energy astro-physics. And why not? The laws of physics are the same on Earth as they are out there in space.

hrothgar · Answer

Consider that physicists have publicly said that the LHC will create *tiny* blackholes.  To the public, they don't bother continuing to read that the blackholes will evaporate or disappear as quickly as they are formed.  Instead, they focus on the light trapping property.  So they figure that the blackhole could capture enough junk in the LHC to take over the Earth, swallowing it up.  Of course its nonsense, but your average person can't find anything wrong with this possibility.  They may admit it is unlikely if you press them, but they will still say its possible even if unlikely.  This line of reasoning makes good science fiction and propaganda.

Also, realize what physicists did in WW2 by creating the nuclear bomb.   There's still a lot of distrust of science over that.  The public isn't sure what the real goal of science is.  Do they really want to find out about fundamental particles that probably won't change everyday life in any substantial way or would they rather create a blackhole weapon and destroy the Earth (or terrorists, whatever fits the agenda).

KinMix · Answer

People are afraid of things they don't understand... It always was like that, and always will.
If your doctor would say to you that you have an Orthomyxoviridae virus. How would you fill?  But it is just a flu...

David H · Answer

The same reason people "predict" when the world will end. They enjoy watching and laughing as people people freak out.

Tom S · Answer

everything on the news is controlled to keep you living fear so you do and buy stuff you don't need.

and also have you ever heard of the expression 'hit by the stupid stick'?
every idiotic person has one and they can just pass it on to you if your not careful

btw free panda hug to make u calm down
('''&#92;_(O.o)_/''')

Anonymous · Answer

stupidity is contagious

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Can someone explain to me please?

6 Answers