WHY on earth would anyone spend energy worrying about something that is really, really unlikely to happen? Better, surely, to save it for more probable events such as losing your job, home or partner. But follow the logic behind assessments of such remote risks and things may look different – leading, for example, to a 10,000-fold rise in the probability that an Earth-guzzling black hole will appear when the LHC restarts (see “Is the LHC safe?”). It might even take your mind off more mundane worries – until you recalculate the odds, that is.
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