Dead Irish Writers

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From NBC:
Many issues are in play during a White House party to celebrate the argumentative First Lady's (Stockard Channing) birthday as she contemplates the likely loss of her medical license the next day while the President (Martin Sheen) is visited by proper British Ambassador Marbury (Roger Rees) who argues against Bartlet's meeting with a murderous Irish terrorist. In other rooms, Sam (Rob Lowe) meets with a Senator (Robin Thomas) who is blocking funding a controversial superconductor that would cost billions; Donna (Janel Moloney) discovers that she's really Canadian -- and techically not an American; Abbey, C.J. (Allison Janney) and several of the women mischievously steal away in a closet to drink, dish and diss.

[spike]

Ever wondered exactly what a Superconducting Super Colider/particle accelerator is and how it works? Well...

"...a particle accelerator was a large, circular tube through which subatomic particles were accelerated. Magnets in the tube turned on and off in rapid succession to 'push' particles around and around until they reached tremendous velocities. Fully accelerated particles circled the tube at over 180,000 miles per second...by accelerating two particles in opposite directions around the tube and then colliding them, scientists could shatter the particles into their constituent parts and get a glimpse of natures most fundamental components. 'Particle accelerators,' Brownell declaired, 'are critical to the future of science. Colliding particles is the key to understanding the building blocks of the universe.'" (Emphasis the authors.)

This information was found in the book Angels and Demons by Dan Brown.

Slightly more in depth than the explanation in the episode, but I found it interesting and thought you lot might too. But then I'm a geek