Why wasn't the LHC built in the US?

[her209]

Instead, it was built in Europe. Seems like we're ceding our title, assuming we had it in the first place, of most technologically advanced country in the world when we allow such things to happen.

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[HamburgerBoy]

They make the discovery. A matter of days/weeks/months later, we get the results for the cost of nothing more than giving the self-loving Euros a pat on the back. Win win.

 

[Veliko]

The LHC isn't the first Haldron Collider to be built; just the largest.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

The LHC isn't the first Haldron Collider to be built; just the largest.

Where did the op say anything to the contrary? We're America, damnit, we should have the biggest everything!

(But srsly, I'm pretty sure that at the LHC is where the most progress has been made and the meaning behind the op's question obvious)

 

[PhoenixEnigma]

You had your shot in the 90s, but you were to cheap to pay for the SSC. Would have been larger then than the LHC is now, too.

 

[Olikan]

boson higgs don't care about patriotism bullshit

 

[dawp]

^^ Yup, the superconducting super collider was cancelled due to politics.

The SSC's planned collision energy of 40 TeV is about three times the 14 TeV of its European counterpart, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN in Geneva.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superconducting_Super_Collider#Comparison_to_the_Large_Hadron_Collider

 

[Miramonti]

They were the first to discover the budget for it.

 

[DrPizza]

There's a partially built one in Texas, but it was cancelled because it wasn't known what immediate application it would have.

 

[BrokenVisage]

The LHC isn't the first Haldron Collider to be built; just the largest.

Yup, and just like with satellite arrays soon enough we'll have something called the Very Large Hadron Collider that will be even bigger.

lol I totally made that up but apparently it's true: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_Large_Hadron_Collider

 

[Fritzo]

There's a partially built one in Texas, but it was cancelled because it wasn't known what immediate application it would have.

This. Congress doesn't understand science, therefore they don't pay for things they don't understand.

It's essentially the same reason we have no space program now.

 

[Gibsons]

This. Congress doesn't understand science, therefore they don't pay for things they don't understand.

It's essentially the same reason we have no space program now.

Really good article on this by Steven Weinberg.

The Crisis of Big Science

 

[epidemis]

Instead, it was built in Europe. Seems like we're ceding our title, assuming we had it in the first place, of most technologically advanced country in the world when we allow such things to happen.

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It was planned to be built in US. See Superconducting Supercollider. Axed due to budget cuts

 

[dmcowen674]

Why wasn't the LHC built in the US?

Instead, it was built in Europe. Seems like we're ceding our title, assuming we had it in the first place, of most technologically advanced country in the world when we allow such things to happen.

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You frequent P&N, Shirley you have to remember the debate a few years ago when Bush decided to close down Femilab in Chicago and let the Europeans gain all Science dominance.

 

[Fritzo]

Really good article on this by Steven Weinberg.

The Crisis of Big Science

It's infuriating, isn't it? Advancement and discovery are being shunned by the simplistic, ignorant question "How will this help (insert current political issue here)".

To get a big science project killed, one simply has to ask Congress "How will this help poverty?" "How will this stop hunger?" "How will this lower the deficit?"

Short sighted idiots. They spend so much time focusing on manipulating politics to pass bills that they have no idea of the world around them. Computers, telecommunications, clean energy...these are all technologies that just popped into an inventor's head one day, so there's no need for research or exploration.

Even more infuriating...what do they end up doing with the money they saved? Spending 20x more on things like unneeded air superiority fighters, war drones, and other weapons programs we don't need.

 

[Paul98]

Instead, it was built in Europe. Seems like we're ceding our title, assuming we had it in the first place, of most technologically advanced country in the world when we allow such things to happen.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superconducting_Super_Collider

 

[IronWing]

When a Congress critter asks you what future practical value your multi-billion dollar taxpayer-funded super-toy might be expected to offer society and you answer "None that I'm aware of" you can expect the ax to fall. The SSC folks who testified before Congress were arrogant, oblivious, or ill-prepared and it cost them their tatter-twaddler. They flunked the "why should we hire you question".

 

[Gibsons]

It's infuriating, isn't it? Advancement and discovery are being shunned by the simplistic, ignorant question "How will this help (insert current political issue here)".

To get a big science project killed, one simply has to ask Congress "How will this help poverty?" "How will this stop hunger?" "How will this lower the deficit?"

Even faster: "We're not building it in your district"

 

[Born2bwire]

One of the problems is that you only need one ueber accelerator and that one is a huge expenditure in money and time. Upgrading CERN to the LHC as opposed to building a brand new accelerator in the US makes sense in that CERN more easily attracts multinational support and personnel. Heck, the LHC literally lies in multiple countries. The US did however upgrade Fermilab's Tevatron and the Tevatron bridged the gap while CERN was upgrading to the LHC. Basically, when you look at it, CERN and Fermilab have for the past 20 years or so leapfrogged one another, often with one of them operating while the other is down being upgraded to surpass the other.

It should also be noted that US scientists work at CERN and a lot of the equipment was designed and produced in the US at places like Fermilab. So in basic terms, where the LHC actually lies is not that big of a deal. The US has several accelerators that are still in operation that are accessible to scientists and students. I think there are other areas in science that the US needs to focus on as opposed to not having the LHC.

 

[Smoblikat]

Instead, it was built in Europe. Seems like we're ceding our title, assuming we had it in the first place, of most technologically advanced country in the world when we allow such things to happen.

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If it was in America obama would split it up and give each American a piece, but the catch is he would tax it once he gave it to us (we HAVE to accept his "gift") and we would owe him more than the piece is worth in the first place.

 

[mk]

The LHC was built by CERN. Building it in the US would've been a tough sell.

 

[JS80]

They were the first to decide to get closer to bankruptcy for it.

Fixed

 

[Hacp]

SO europe foots the bill and we suck its tit dry. Win win!

 

[PowerEngineer]

If it was in America obama would split it up and give each American a piece, but the catch is he would tax it once he gave it to us (we HAVE to accept his "gift") and we would owe him more than the piece is worth in the first place.

Wrong fourm. You obviously have a need to spew unrelated political drivel at every opportunity. That's what P&N is for.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

This. Congress doesn't understand science, therefore they don't pay for things they don't understand.

It's essentially the same reason we have no space program now.

bullshit, they're experts on science:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAaDVOd2sRQ