Rich scientists never read Wikipedia

[Minsc]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/8857154/Worlds-most-powerful-laser-to-tear-apart-the-vacuum-of-space.html


They spent $200,000,000 because they didn't bother reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-photon_physics and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matter_creation
When you bombard photons, it creates fermions.

[Rassah]

They're probably lying about it being a science experiment. Once built, they just have to aim it upwards, launch a few very light and cheap mirror satellites, and they'll be able to blast any point on the planet with a super powerful laser.
At least I hope that's what they're planning. Would be cool!

[greyhawk]

It's Planetary Defense. To blast the Rept-alien Invaders out of the sky.

[edd]

They're probably lying about it being a science experiment. Once built, they just have to aim it upwards, launch a few very light and cheap mirror satellites, and they'll be able to blast any point on the planet with a super powerful laser.
At least I hope that's what they're planning. Would be cool!

Wasn't that the plot of Real Genius?

[JeffK]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/8857154/Worlds-most-powerful-laser-to-tear-apart-the-vacuum-of-space.html


They spent $200,000,000 because they didn't bother reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-photon_physics and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matter_creation
When you bombard photons, it creates fermions.

[/quote

The scientific method is pretty much bullshit and we should get all our information from people who piece it together from google searches in between watching Naruto and posting on forums about the Asperger's they are sure they must have because they are so "inteligent" and hate socializing.

[Rassah]

They're probably lying about it being a science experiment. Once built, they just have to aim it upwards, launch a few very light and cheap mirror satellites, and they'll be able to blast any point on the planet with a super powerful laser.
At least I hope that's what they're planning. Would be cool!

Wasn't that the plot of Real Genius?

Never saw it, but I think having a ground based lasers with mirror sats would be way cheaper than launching it into space along with batteries.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

One of the comments on the article echo my sentiment completely:

Since this is completely uncharted territory and will have the power to tear apart the vacuum of space what assurances does the earth  have that this is safe and will NOT destroy the planet? You know once the trigger is pulled you can't call this thing back. I for one am dead set against this. Let us pray the globe will not end up dead because the science is dead wrong and and we are all gone.

I can see a whole show on Coast to Coast about this issue.

[Exonumia]

The scientific method is pretty much bullshit and we should get all our information from people who piece it together from google searches in between watching Naruto and posting on forums about the Asperger's they are sure they must have because they are so "inteligent" and hate socializing.

I almost spit my espresso out laughing You summed up my thoughts nicely.

[TheBible]

I'm sure glad Minsc is here to check the work of career scientists against a database literally anyone can edit.

Hey, I found a neat article!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning-Kruger_effect

[TheBible]

One of the comments on the article echo my sentiment completely:

Since this is completely uncharted territory and will have the power to tear apart the vacuum of space what assurances does the earth  have that this is safe and will NOT destroy the planet? You know once the trigger is pulled you can't call this thing back. I for one am dead set against this. Let us pray the globe will not end up dead because the science is dead wrong and and we are all gone.

I can see a whole show on Coast to Coast about this issue.

On what grounds do you believe this to be a legitimate issue?

[mjcmurfy]

So your argument is that scientists should stop doing experimental testing because wikipedia has all the answers?  
Sorry to burst your bubble, but if it were not for these 'rich scientists' you refer to, there would be nothing to put on wikipedia in the first place.

There are many potential uses for a laser of this power, and until you have the technology there is no way of knowing fully the ways in which it could be used to further our understanding of the universe.

200 million is chump change, when you consider the amount of public money utterly wasted on the military or recapitalising banks.

If anyone listened to people like you, we would be still in the dark ages burning books and persecuting those who dare attempt any form of scientific advancement.