Antiproton Shortage
I’ve read that there’s an antiproton shortage affecting anti-matter research. Where can we get more antiprotons, anyway?
———- from Dave Berglund of Mishawaka, IN
You’re in luck. They’re on sale this week at Wal-Mart. Buy ’em by the sack and save, just like you used to be able to do at the five-and-dime but Woolworth’s was another scarred era of my youth. Oh, your question? Of course, the main thing you want of do is keep them away from protons. Let an antiproton near one of those pesky protons and you’ve got a potential nuclear winter on your hands. Fortunately, most protons are huddled in proton globs deep beneath the arctic poles. But leave it to some National Geographic type to dig a hole in the ice, bring a bunch of protons home and then go shopping at Wal-Mart. I tell you, you can’t win. Might as well stick your head in the target end of a linear accelerator some days.
You’re in luck. They’re on sale this week at Wal-Mart. Buy ’em by the sack and save, just like you used to be able to do at the five-and-dime but Woolworth’s was another scarred era of my youth. Oh, your question? Of course, the main thing you want of do is keep them away from protons. Let an antiproton near one of those pesky protons and you’ve got a potential nuclear winter on your hands. Fortunately, most protons are huddled in proton globs deep beneath the arctic poles. But leave it to some National Geographic type to dig a hole in the ice, bring a bunch of protons home and then go shopping at Wal-Mart. I tell you, you can’t win. Might as well stick your head in the target end of a linear accelerator some days. 