According to Yahoo News, the most powerful atom-smasher ever created is scheduled to begin operations in August of this year. Scientists hope that the results will provide insight into extra dimensions, invisible matter and other data that could ultimately progress knowledge of the inner workings of the universe.

However, fears of the machine’s possible effects have led to a lawsuit designed to block the collider from being started. Some critics fear that the atom-smasher could have catastrophic consequences for the planet, from the creation of micro black holes that could swallow the Earth to the formation of hypothetical particles known as strangelets that could blanket and choke the planet.

With top-level research scientists weighing in on both sides of the debate, there are no easy answers. No less an authority than Stephen Hawking has predicted that the splitter will be safe, as any micro black holes or strangelets would dissipate almost instantaneously. Still, the only way to know for sure is start the machine and see what happens.

At what point does scientific research become too risky? How many of these concerns are based on phobias of doomsday scenarios rather than realistic dangers? Are we programmed by events like the Chernobyl disaster to automatically distrust new technology, or are we just naturally conservative? Your thoughts are welcome!