Large Hadron Collider Rap Is a Hit

by Nancy Atkinson on August 27, 2008

Kate McAlpine at the LHC. Credit: Telegraph

Kate McAlpine at the LHC. Credit: Telegraph

Puzzled about particle physics? Want to know what the inside of the Large Hadron Collider looks like? Like music, fun and science? Want to know for sure the LHC won’t create a black hole that will swallow the Earth? Find all of the above in a rap song created by Kate McAlpine, 23, who used to work in the press office of CERN, where on September 10, the LHC will be powered up. The song has been a hit on You Tube, and has been downloaded over 400,000 times. Physicists say the science in the song is “spot on” and provides a rhythmic tour of the mysteries of modern physics and the workings of the LHC, while noting that “the things that it discovers will rock you in the head.” Without further ado, here it is:

McAlpine wrote the rap during her 40-minute morning commute to CERN. “Some more academic people are not too happy and they think it kind of cheapens the science and dumbs it down,” she says. “But I think mostly people are excited to have this rap out there. And a lot of people at CERN just think it’s great, so that’s exciting.”

Source: Telegraph UK

Newer Comments →
  • Larry

    Now that is just a cool way to teach and what a mind Kate must have! Good for her.

  • fivefourman

    Bravo Kate McAlpine!
    This doesn’t cheapen science, it explains it. My professor used to say all the time that if you can’t explain what you’re doing to your grandma, either what you’re doing is illegal or you don’t really understand it yourself. It’s obvious that Kate understands it and is excited about it. And that combination is priceless.

  • Sili

    Booo. Old spoilsports.

    That must be why the LHC doesn’t have a personal blog yet.

  • Don Alexander

    I think a LOT of guys will want to marry her now… ;)

  • Yael Dragwyla

    Now, *this* is what I meant about “fighting dirty” when dealing with conspiracy theorists: You have to do that on a very different level than when discussing scientific matters with real scientists, or you haven’t a prayer of changing their minds or, at least, their impact on the public. Contemporary popular music, especially when produced by a very pretty young lady, is a great way to do that — it draws a bead directly on the emotional brain, utterly ignoring the intellect and scoring a bull’s-eye on where it’s at. ;-)

  • Ross Germon

    Bravo Kate! Bravo!

    If this rap helps one more person take an interest then it will have been worth it.. But it will stimulate the interst of thousands! AWESOME!

  • Van

    okies, somebody has GOT to put out a HD torrent of this!!! It is GREAT!!!

  • john

    Kate McAlpine makes a very smart contribution to education by using the current musical style to educate us all in some very complicated concepts. She has a talent for explanation like all good teachers. Keep up the good work, we need more like you.

  • http://www.lhcfacts.org JTankers

    *
    o The Rap is outstanding! Loved it! But are the folks aware of the history of the LHC Safety Story?

    Former Nuclear Safety Officer Walter L. Wagner discovered flaws with CERN’s safety arguments. He believes that the Large Hadron Collider could create dangerous particles that might destroy Earth, so he filed a law suit to require proof of safety. [1]

    In response, CERN scientists created a safety report in 2008 that argues no real chance of danger. [2]

    After review, German Astrophysicist Dr. Rainer Plaga argues that CERN’s new report does not prove safety. Dr. Plaga proposes that CERN follow additional safety procedures to help reduce the danger, including proceeding slowly. [3]

    On August 14th, CERN’s Dr. Jonathan Ellis stated that there is no real danger and they will not proceed slowly, the will begin collisions in a few weeks. [4]

    Another German scientist, Professor Dr. Otto E. Rössler theorizes that if micro black holes are created in the Large Hadron Collider, they could grow large enough to destroy Earth in just years or decades. [5]

    Dr. Rössler requests that an emergency safety conference be held before collisions begin. He is due to meet Swiss President Pascal Couchepin to discuss safety concerns.

    [1] http://www.lhcdefense.org/lhc_legal.php US Federal Lawsuit Filings – Walter L. Wagner

    [2] public.web.cern.ch/public/en/lhc/Safety-en.html The safety of the LHC, Web Site – CERN

    [3] arxiv.org/PS_cache/arxiv/pdf/0808/0808.1415v1.pdf On the potential catastrophic risk from metastable quantum-black holes produced at particle colliders – Rainer Plaga Rebuttal

    [4] http://www.lhcfacts.org/?p=72 CERN’s Dr. Ellis tells only half of the story – JTankers

    [5] http://www.wissensnavigator.com/documents/spiritualottoeroessler.pdf A Rational and Moral and Spiritual Dilemma – Otto E. Rōssler Safety Counter Arguments

  • Chuck Lam

    Our culture could use more Kate McAlpine types in academia.

  • hippykicker

    Kat McAlpine is SUPER HOT!!!!!!!!

  • hippykicker

    I think I’m in love…

  • Clan Chattan

    Kate , you are a star, lighting up the darkness. Thank you.

  • One Sane Mind

    I’m glad I’m not a conspiracy theorist, because I don’t know if I could handle one side of my brain saying, “I know science is right.” while the other half of my brain would sit there and say, “But, I need to disprove it.” It would drive me crazy. Obviously, it’s already happened to most of the theorists.

  • http://ferventheat.blogspot.com Michael

    This was way too cool. I could even understand the words!!(Although subtitles helped…LOL)

  • soupy

    get from PERV
    ………..
    to CERN

    just changing one letter at a time in two steps

    PERV
    PERN
    CERN
    nice word play… you are good!!! lol

  • Joseph

    really should have gone with a bestie boys beat…otherwise, perfectly amazing and entertaining.

  • Don Alexander

    I submit the following theory for peer review in Phys. Rev. D:

    The person posting here under the name Kate McAlpine is not identical with the real Katherine McAlpine who created the LHC rap.

  • Andrew

    I second the above submission.

  • Kate McAlpine

    you’re probably right

Newer Comments →

Previous post:

Next post: