Daily Show Explains the LHC

Cosmic Variance
By Sean Carroll
May 1, 2009 5:39 PMNov 5, 2019 8:19 AM

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

You can always count on the Daily Show. As John presaged earlier this month, correspondent John Oliver visited CERN to do a report on the LHC, which has finally appeared. Watch as John Ellis lays the science smackdown!

The best thing about it is that, once again, Jon Stewart and company have taken an issue that completely flummoxed most major news media -- in this case, the purported danger that the LHC will destroy the world -- and actually get it right. In addition to visiting CERN itself, Oliver scored an interview with Walter Wagner ("graduated UC Berkeley with a Minor in Physics"), originator of much of the hysteria and lawsuits. You'll get to hear Wagner explain that the probability the LHC will destroy the world is -- wait for it -- fifty percent. You know, because when you have two things that can possibly happen, obviously each has half the probability, right? I don't want to say too much about Walter Wagner, because, if nothing else, the guy is really fond of a good lawsuit. So I have no comment whatsoever on Walter Wagner's competence or sanity. But I do know people who are utterly incompetent and completely insane, who resemble Walter Wagner in certain ways. I'll stop there. See, major news media? It's not that hard!

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Large Hadron Colliderthedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full EpisodesEconomic CrisisFirst 100 Days

1 free article left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

1 free articleSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2024 LabX Media Group