In The End There's Blackness...& A Hole

For those of you who don't watch The Daily Show, Jon Stewart recently interviewed neuroscientist, Simon LeVay about his book When Science Goes Wrong. Basically it's an account of all the horrible and sometimes fatal misdirections science has taken at various times through history. Stewart asked him if he predicted that there would be other major mistakes in the future, perhaps with say, the Super-Collider, a particle accelerator being built in Switzerland which may be able to help us identify the particles that led to the big bang.

LeVay very calmly explained that some scientists have pointed out that there is a possibility that this machine will create a black hole which will swallow up the earth and that there have actually been some complaints about that. But not to worry, the people making the machine say that is "not very likely." Yes, there's a remote chance but we really do want to know about those particles so they're going to risk it.

What interests me about this story is how incredibly unalarming it is. Maybe it's just me, but I simply can't get very worked up about this. As an environmentalist I often worry about our dwindling resources and the destruction of animal habitats. Also, if someone told me that we were on the brink of nuclear war I'd be completely freaked out. I occasionally fret about the possibility of being killed in a car crash or mugged on the street. But a giant black hole that could end absolutely everything? Apparently I'm okay with that.

I'm sure part of the reason for this is that it's too outlandish of an idea for me to really buy into. I know that we're a pretty technologically advanced and at times, brutal species but creating a black hole capable of swallowing up planets? I just don't think we have it in us. But my ambivalence requires further explanation. For one, if we did create a black hole I think the end would come pretty quickly. Maybe we'd have time to register that the earth was shaking a bit under our feet and then poof, we're all gone. No pain, no anxiety, just a shake-shake-we're done. And since we'd all be going together there's no need to worry about the loved ones people normally leave behind when they die. If you think about it, it's not a bad way to go. Plus there's a certain caché, about being gobbled up by the most powerful force in the universe. It's really sort of cool.

So while I absolutely do not believe that we are all going to die in August (when they plan to try out the machine) if we do, I want you all to know that I've really enjoyed our various conversations and, if given the opportunity, I promise to write another Sophie book in the afterlife. After all, we'll all be there together.

Kyra Davis
Bestselling Author of:
SEX, MURDER AND A DOUBLE LATTE,
PASSION, BETRAYAL AND KILLER HIGHLIGHTS,
OBSESSION, DECEIT AND REALLY DARK CHOCOLATE
and
SO MUCH FOR MY HAPPY ENDING