Our understanding of the Universe is about to change...
Scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, better known by its French acronym, CERN, are planning to send a beam of particles racing around the 27-kilometer ring of the Large Hadron Collider for the first time.
"Beams of subatomic protons and other particles will zip around the ring, accelerated up to nearly the speed of light by some 1,800 superconducting magnet systems. Protons will reach an energy level of 7 trillion electron volts, seven times more powerful than in any existing accelerator. The project has cost an estimated $5.8 billion.
When the LHC goes into full operation, scientists will aim beams of particles directly at each other. When particles collide — up to 600 million times a second — special sensors will detect and record the collisions, and a network of computers will analyze the vast amount of data generated.
It's designed in part to mimic conditions present at the beginning of the universe, the Big Bang, almost 15 billion years ago."
As scientists and technicians prepare to send a particle beam all the way around the LHC, some critics have wondered whether attempts to reproduce conditions at the beginning of the universe may create a black hole that could destroy the Earth.
About CERN:
CERN - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
About The Large Hadron Collider:
CERN - The Large Hadron Collider Large Hadron Collider - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia About the experiment: Massive physics experiment on Wednesday - Breaking News - World - Breaking News VOA News - World's Biggest Physics Experiment Moves Closer to Completion
CERN employees release LHC rap video on YouTube (
Must watch):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j50ZssEojtM
Could CERN's Large Hadron Collider experiment trigger the end of the world? Several lawsuits filed:
The Insider - Could CERN's Large Hadron Collider experiment trigger the end of the world?
Scientists threatened:
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ne...-13964014.html
CERN assures safety:
CERN Press Release – Final LHC Synchronisation Test a Success Watch the live webcast here: Live webcast
-abhishake