spontaneous appearance

12.03.08

Hey, Who Switched Off the Universe?

Just in case you didn't have enough to worry about, think about this: A random fluctuation of the vacuum of space anywhere in the universe could flip the cosmic light switch to "off."

By Paul Beck Posted 01.23.2002 at 7:30 pm 0 Comments

The Paper

"Quark Disasters." Delivered at the British Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Festival, Glasgow, Scotland, September 2001

The Author

Benjamin Allenach, European Center for
Nuclear Research (CERN)

The Gist

Think quarks, leptons, and bosons are too small to harm you? Think again. Someday, they and their sister particles could unmake your whole cosmos.

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speedy The Fastest Swimsuit on Earth
"At the Beijing Olympic pool, perhaps the only star bigger than Michael Phelps was his swimsuit. The Speedo LZR (pronounced "laser"), like Phelps, didn't disappoint: 16 of the 32 gold-medal winners wore the full-body suit, and another 13 wore LZR pants."
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speedy A Finish that Repairs Itself
"It won't save you from a key-gouging vandal, but the finish on the 2008 Infiniti EX and FX-model SUVs can erase scrapes caused by, say, car washes or stray branches."
[Read full story]

speedy Boeing Advanced Tactical Laser
"Truck-mounted IED-destroying lasers have already been tested in Iraq, but firing lasers from an airplane is a more difficult proposition."
[Read full story]

speedy A Spit Test for Heart Attacks
"This year, San Antonio EMT crews began using a spit test that detects cardiac arrest faster, more accurately and more cheaply than other diagnostic tests."

[Read full story]

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