worldwatcher,

I share your enthusiasm and interest in all things related to our universe but our galaxy is 150,000 light years across not 150 light years, it is also 15,000 light years deep. More awesome still is the distance to our next nearest galaxy Andromeda, a mere 2.2m light years away.

If you are interested in the physics behind it you can visit some of the many CERN information sites.

I’m not sure about worm holes but you might keep an eye on string theory, M theory and supersymetry as potential breakthrough areas. Sadly none of these solve the limit of light speed, at least in the short term.

Remember that it took our physicists some 63 years to prove the existence of the Higgs particle even though the math’s pointed to its discovery.

But hey! Watch this space

Spindoc,

Seems I misread your figures. Even so the mind boggles at the distances you describe.

I've heard Michio Kaku describe string theory. As very much a layman, I at times find it difficult to follow the physics, but Dr. Kaku has the knack of putting his theories into terms which are more easily understood by people like myself.

Thanks for the heads up - I will check out the CERN sites too.

I remember there was great excitement in scientific circles when the Higgs particle was detected last year. I'd been following reports on the Hadron collider experiments with some trepidation, as nobody seemed quite sure what the results would be. Even eminent scientists were disagreeing over what the possible consequences could be weren't they?
Now I'll be checking out supersymmetry too.

It is at times like this that I wish I had taken my education further when I had the opportunity to do so. I was just too darn anxious to get out into the world and earn money. I find it's very difficult to play catchup now

Spindoc,

Would also like to hear any thoughts you have about HAARP.

worldwatcher,

Not sure if you mean the civilian/military HAARP project itself or the conspiracy theories surrounding it? It seems that as soon as the word “military” is seen in collaborative research the blogosphere goes bananas.

This is all about radio frequency research (light photon particles) and their interaction with the ionosphere. The conspiracy theorists demonstrate that they don’t have a clue about chemistry let alone physics, nor do they understand about the modern military, they are again just trying to fill a gap in their own ignorance.

If it makes you feel any better. The CERN LHC cost ten billion dollars, involving 128 nations, it is 27 kms long, the collectors alone weigh in at 2,500 tonnes each, the liquid helium coolant for the superconductor magnets would fill many Olympic swimming pools and it requires a stand alone power station to run it.

It does daily ten hour collider runs, accelerating dual loops of protons/hadrons (heavy particles) to 99.99999 % of light speed requiring 14 Tera e/V (electron volts). Every nanosecond several million protons are collided in bursts and in a year this would be just enough to fill a pin head.

And these conspiracy nuts think they have a handle on potential military use of ionasphereic radio frequency to find and bombard enemy submarines in WATER?

Satellite location of any ship/sub has been in place since the 1950’s. They can locate any vessel by its impact on the earth’s magnetic field and by its hull/propeller acoustic fingerprint.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Spindoc,

Seems little is known about the research at HAARP, and I found they themselves are not very forthcoming with information. I guess it's only natural that some members of the public immediately jump to conspiracy theories.
Have to say there's a lot of money being spent on weather research up there, and the fact that it is a civilian/military installation could lead one to believe it may not be the only thing being researched?
Like most all things, eventually we may learn the truth.
Until then I have an open mind.