Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Exactly what are the odds of a strangelet being created at the RHIC?

Answer: The experimenters are responsible, intelligent physicists (RIPs). They use the theoretical quantum chromodynamic (QCD) model to make predictions about what will happen and then validate that model with experimental results. QCD predicts that a strangelet should be created, but the RIPs are unable to say for sure because many of the equations of the QCD have no solution. Thus, a probability for the creation of a strangelet is not computable, but strangelets are definitely expected to be created.

Question: If a strangelet is created, what are the odds that it's metastable?

Answer: "Metastable" means that it will last for more than a billionth of a second before it spontaneously decays. That's enough time for the strangelet to begin interacting with normal matter such as that found in the walls of the RHIC device. Again, QCD is unable to predict this probability but most RIPs feel stranglets will likely be metastable.

Question: If a metastable strangelet is created, what are the odds that it's neutral or negatively charged?

Answer: It will definitely not be strongly positively charged (or it wouldn't be strange) but RIPs disagree on this issue. Again, QCD is unable to exactly predict the most likely strange matter configuration. The model suggests that negative strangelets are very likely (see The Story of Strangelets by Joshua Holden). If a metastable negative strangelet should contact normal matter, it will absorb protons and neutrons and become fully stable when it reaches an atomic mass of about 100 (absorbing just 25 helium atoms or two iron atoms would do that). After that, there would be no way to stop the runaway reaction until every atom on earth had been absorbed. The resulting giant strange atom would have the mass of the Earth and be about the size of a small house.

Question: If a neutral or negatively charged metastable strangelet (NNCMS) is created, what are the odds that it will cause the destruction of the earth?

Answer: Almost certain. One hope is that the positron decay period after proton absorbtion is quite long, but there is no way to compute that.

Question: If an NNCMS causes the destruction of the Earth, how long will it take before we will feel any effects?

Answer: It could take years. The strangelet will be pulled down to the core of the Earth by gravity (because it will be much denser than normal matter) as it eats its way through the rock. Because the strangelet will get more stable as it grows, energy will be given off in the form of gamma rays that will heat the surrounding rock. The energy released from each absorbed proton or neutron will be comparable to that of a hydrogen-hydrogen fusion reaction. Eventually, the heating will cause the core of the Earth to expand causing earthquakes and seismic waves in the oceans that will steadily worsen. People will die from earthquakes, tsunamis, or poison gasses released from rampant volcanic activity. At some point, the core of the Earth will contract again as its mass is consumed in the growing strangelet, until finally the whole Earth will be reduced to a strange mass about 100 meters in diameter.

Question: What can I do about this?

Answer: Public awareness of the issue is key. Write to your congressional representative and science magazine and newspaper editors.

A not-for-profit foundation called "Stop the RHIC" has been formed to fund continuing legal actions on this situation. Donations should be made payable under that name, addressed to: PO Box 411, Honomu, HI 96728.

Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com

This page established May 15, 2000; last updated by Rick Wagner, October 8, 2010.