CERN levels up with new superconducting karts
361 points - today at 7:27 AM
SourceTakes me back to the week we all thought room temperature super conductors might be a solved problem.
That served a useful purpose- it let you objectively identify how gullible everyone you know is.
There was more than enough skepticism and cautious optimism too. While it sounded too soon to be real, it wasn't unlike carbon nanotubes, graphene, or solid state batteries — previously unachievable material-tech getting validation in the lab, with a 20yr pipeline for global production. With even nuclear fusion being achieved in very specific / limited instances in the last decade, it's not inconceivable to hope that maybe RTSC are just around the corner.
It also served the purpose of finding out who the cynical Debbie Downers who have no hope are as well!
If your hope for the future is based on believing the most obviously-impossible technological claim in the world, you're way more cynical than I am.
ppsreejith
today at 4:11 PM
Why are room temperature superconductors an 'obviously-impossible' technological claim?
Asking since we've managed to increase superconductor temperature several times in the past, right? (to ~ -130 degrees celsius right now IIRC). Why is our current temperature of, say ~30 degrees celsius special?
idiotsecant
today at 5:12 PM
Its not at all clear that room temperature superconductors are impossible, it's a materials problem. If someone was to find one that is probably how they would do it - testing materials for some other property and finding it accidentally.
ChrisClark
today at 7:15 PM
Oh god, wow. It's obviously impossible? Please please please write a paper on that, you can save so much scientist time!
earthnail
today at 8:04 PM
Mario Idraulico says „mamma mia, they’re super”. Gosh I love April.
This got me.
Thought it was real, busted out laughing when I read the project leads name. It still didn't click.
throw101010
today at 11:02 AM
Small clue here too, maybe more subtle:
> explained school director, Rosalina Pfirsich, looking up from her storybook
Pfirsich in German means Peach, as in Princess Peach :D
adrian_b
today at 12:53 PM
Also "project leader Mario Idraulico" (i.e. "hydraulic" in Italian) or "Safety coordinator Luigi Fratello" ("Brother Luigi").
dasyatidprime
today at 6:44 PM
The noun “idraulico” also means “plumber”.
Also the schoolteacher Yoshi Kyouryuu which apparently is the dinosaur.
They’ve also got:
> schoolteacher Yoshi Kyouryuu, mid-way through painting spots on eggs
darth_aardvark
today at 4:44 PM
You somehow identified the last possible, most obscure clue. Mario, Luigi, Rosalina, and Yoshi show up before that.
hapidjus
today at 12:09 PM
There is also ”project leader Mario Idraulico”
charltones
today at 1:54 PM
Also the hat and mustache of the kart driver.
Someone was saying "can we just not with April fools" this year because everything is so grim and dire in the world... but I think this is such a perfect level we need. I could go for more whimsy like this.
Pixelbrick
today at 2:29 PM
I'd of said I had limited appetite for April fools gubbins this year too but this still made me smile :)
moron4hire
today at 5:22 PM
This one was good. It was pretty low-stakes and not anything that would impact anyone. For a while there, companies like Google were announcing products that sounded like a good idea, but turned out were just them trolling everyone over things people had been requesting for a long time.
Their heyday of good jokes was also when they hadn't produced any ads and seemed like an underdog. "Don't Be Evil" days.
Vibe-wise they all feel closer to Raytheon and I sure as fuck wouldn't want to see an attempt at a whimsical joke from Raytheon.
Man I fell for it until I saw your post. In fact, I was just about to post what the man's name means in Italian.
I was even going to point out how ironic it is that the mans first name and last name fit together so well.
In my defense I only got as far as idraulico and missed the "Mamma mia, they're super!"
newsclues
today at 12:46 PM
I read the title and thought CERN + Mario Kart and am giggling.
riffraff
today at 11:37 AM
ah! got me too!
shevy-java
today at 11:27 AM
For me it was easier. While I forgot it was first april,
the image was too outrageous. Looked like AI-generated
slop.
They may have had more success with another image. AI
slop made us lazy.
riffraff
today at 11:39 AM
IMO a made up "artist conception" picture on an article like this would have been perfectly appropriate, we've seen worse (think of the whole NEOM thingy).
PunchyHamster
today at 9:41 AM
We need followup post exactly 365 days later describing first karting accident inside CERN
CERN Research Facility, Geneva. Subject: Gordon Freeman, Male, Age 27
GĂ©rard Hommelibre?
Bonjour, and bienvenue to the Black Mesa - pardon, la Mesa Noire - Établissement de Recherche. Please keep your hands inside le tramway at all times, and do try not to provoquer une cascade de résonance. Merci.
Tired: particle accelerator which crosses the border between France and Switzerland.
Wired: particle accelerator which crosses the border between Quebec and Ontario.
Wireless: Quartks crossing between France and Ontario
ourmandave
today at 11:59 AM
I would pay stupid money for a CERN Tunnel Rainbow Road track DLC.
How about for a real life Rainbow Road made by the Quantum Mushroom startup? I think that might be the aerospace applications reference in the article:
> CERN’s Knowledge Transfer Group has begun discussions with European startup company Quantum Mushroom to explore aerospace applications and powering for next-generation anti-gravity vehicles.
pugworthy
today at 5:09 PM
I'd be cautious of residual Higgs Booson particles in the tunnels. They can cause unexpected phase shifts if encountered, which may expose the driver to unexpected hazards.
lapetitejort
today at 5:29 PM
The observer effect prevents Booson particles from traveling towards the observer
gnarlouse
today at 7:52 AM
Happy April Fools Day!
As Alumni, the tables outside R1 are prime for getting ideas, with some help from fermented barley, especially after work during Summertime.
I always look forward to CERN's April fools jokes!
lloydatkinson
today at 9:08 AM
[flagged]
This is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are on the other three hundred and sixty-four.
-- Mark Twain, "Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar"
How dare people have fun.
This is an old internet tradition. I am disappointed so few organizations are doing a good april fools day post nowadays.
MisterTea
today at 12:06 PM
You must be a real hoot at parties.
stego-tech
today at 1:05 PM
Ah, the stages of a good April Fool's nerd joke:
1, Reading the Headline on HN) "Man, this is probably going to be something more practical, but I wish they were superconducting go-karts or golf-carts to get around the facility in."
2, Reading the article) "...okay, I was right? Kinda? Huh. Something feels off. Wait a-"
3, Remembering the Date) "FUCK. OK, CERN got me. Good one. Still want a superconducting kart though."
I really miss Think Geek :-(
When they later actually sold the t-shirt they had previously presented as an April Fools joke? That was pretty cool.
I still had a Timmy the Monkey sticker on the lid of my kitchen bin up until a couple of years ago.
Mario Idraulico and Luigi Fratello overseeing this project? I hope the karts don't run into any stray kooparticles.
gluten_guardian
today at 4:09 PM
Ofcourse the guy explaining the carts is called "Mario".
rippeltippel
today at 11:01 AM
Right on time! "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" released today.
totalmarkdown
today at 11:56 AM
[dead]
thomasgeelens
today at 9:45 AM
oh my, I should really visit one day, I'm not even that far from CERN
They do some good tours. They are first come/first serve, so show up in the morning for the best chance to get a place.
high temperature super conductors my beloved
> Each kart is turbo-boosted by 64 superconducting engines,” explains project leader Mario Idraulico
I guess we can now call you Mario 'Kart' Idraulico.
Oh wait.
Thank you CERN, that was a smart one.
coldsmoke
today at 10:24 AM
Since I didn't get the name reference either, here is a link for those who want a hint:
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idraulico
Nice, I didn't get it.
I just realized "Kyouryuu" is Japanese for dinosaur.
And Pfirsich is of course Peach.
moron4hire
today at 5:24 PM
Really enjoyed the "karts and equipment will reach underground areas via giant green pipes" caption on the LHC tunnel diagram.
nicman23
today at 11:54 AM
if you reached c with such a cart - nevermind the heat from air friction, would you be able to breath from a rebreather?
WhitneyLand
today at 3:50 PM
Call me a killjoy I hate April fools jokes.
They missed a perfect spot to mention something about "Gordon".
(Half-Life joke)
As an homage, Supertuxkart might add a CERN-LHC inspired level with a wormhole as a secret path.
shevy-java
today at 11:27 AM
It took me a while to notice the first april, but
actually the image was too unbelievable. But if
such karts were possible, I bet the guys at CERN
would absolutely use it. And then post on youtube.
We know how things happen in "professional research".
groundzeros2015
today at 10:39 AM
Please bro. Just one more particle collider. This one will solve science. The last one wasn’t big enough. Please keep it in desirable real estate though.
Each bigger one has in fact solved more of physics, after being built precisely because there was a good theoretical case for a higher energy collider being helpful.
groundzeros2015
today at 10:50 AM
I’m ignorant. It’s a meme about their optics being terrible after steam ran out for 90s science optimism.
ahartmetz
today at 11:37 AM
As somebody slightly better informed (physics degree, following popular science): It really isn't looking great for something that could be found at a small multiple of current energies, but not at current energies.
voidUpdate
today at 7:51 AM
Is this an april fools joke? The title image looks so over-the-top that I really can't tell if it's a joke or not
No of course not, they have Mario guys running around in karts doing maintenance of hyper complex system with wrenches. No physics can resist Mario's wrench, thats how we move humanity forward
There is a Luigi on the team as well. How it can't be true?
And Yoshi. And Pfirsich, which is Peach in German
tgsovlerkhgsel
today at 7:56 AM
CTRL+F "safety and health"
Meh joke considering this was paid on public money.
Same as choosing to spend xxx,xxx USD to have .cern when using subdomains would have worked too (and caused less validation / compatibility issues).
They got the intern to write a funny post. Probably took them an hour and it drums up a bit of good press for the Hi-Lumi LHC.
Money well spent if you ask me.
steve1977
today at 9:42 AM
As a tax payer in one of the member states, I approve of this joke.
kryptiskt
today at 10:50 AM
The Web is a side project of CERN, they should have gotten a comped top-level domain by rights.
mrguyorama
today at 4:09 PM
This page cost taxpayers like 100 Euros maybe. How much money do you think scientists actually make? How much money and effort do you think it takes to post a blog article with a couple paragraphs of text and an image?