The End Is Nigh: Fundamental Particle Fears

Abstract

John Ringo’s 2005 novel Into the Looking Glass begins with an explosion equivalent to 60 kilotons of TNT, marking the accidental destruction of a university particle accelerator in Florida. The preface to Dan Brown’s novel Angels & Demons makes a point of describing for the reader just how powerful antimatter is, with the reaction of one gram of antimatter and the same amount of matter releasing energy on par with a small atomic weapon. In Martin Caiden’s novel Star Bright a fusion experiment creates a mini star that evolves into a miniature black hole. Russian scientist Vasily Tretyakov admits that the Russians had previously developed a superbomb using similar technology to Star Bright that had resulted in a flood of unknown radiation that created “a tornado of naked electrical force” [1]. The Russians aid the American scientists in trying to contain Star Bright, but earthquakes intensify and the strange electromagnetic effects caused by the unknown radiation lead to widespread irrational behavior (Fig. 3.1).