IF YOU have ever heard of CERN, chances are you know it’s associated with science and nuclear research.
But what exactly does the institution do? Read on to find out.
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What is CERN?
CERN is probably the world’s most famous physics lab.
Its official name is the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, but it’s usually known as CERN.
That’s because the name comes from the French: Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire.
The lab’s work focuses on particle physics – the study of extremely small matter.
In fact, CERN operates the largest particle physics lab in the world.
It was founded back in 1954 and provides the gear needed to study high-energy physics.
This includes particle accelerators. They’re basically tunnels that use electromagnetic fields to make particles move extremely quickly.
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These experiments can involve particles colliding at high speeds.
This allows scientists to study matter in a way that would normally be impossible.
CERN is famous for a number of high-profile experiments, often involving lots of scientists from around the world.
That includes the discovery of the Higgs Boson – or “god particle” – which gives mass to other particles, like electrons.
CERN is also used to refer to the laboratory, which in 2019 had 2,660 staff members, and hosted about 12,400 users from institutions in more than 70 countries.
The iconic CERN is also the birthplace of the World Wide Web.
Where is CERN located?
CERN is based in northwest Geneva, on the Franco-Swiss border, and has 23 member states.
According to Google, its exact address is Espl. des Particules 1, 1211 Meyrin, Switzerland.
According to the House of Switzerland, the location was chosen “to host CERN to a large extent because of its neutrality and its safeguards against the misappropriation of scientific research results for military purposes”.
It continues: “This was especially important when the organisation was established in 1954 because the world was just entering the Cold War.
“Switzerland offers other advantages including its location in the heart of Europe, its tradition as host country to international organisations and its stability.”
What is happening at CERN on July 5, 2022?
CERN is set for a series of events starting on July 3, 2022, with the first celebrations of the ten-year anniversary of the discovery of the Higgs boson particle.
There is also a scientific symposium on July 4.
On July 5, 2022, there will be collisions at unprecedented energy levels at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
The start of Run 3 of the LHC will be streamed live on CERN’s social media channels.
This will mark the launch of the new physics season at the institute’s flagship accelerator.
It comes ten years after groundbreaking research was presented on the Higgs Boson to a packed CERN auditorium.
CERN says the events will be looking back at where a decade of Higgs science has brought the field while also looking ahead to new prospects.
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What is a Hadron Collider?
The LHC is the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator.
It first started up on September 10, 2008, and remains the latest addition to CERN’s accelerator complex.
The LHC took a decade to build and cost around $4.75billion.
It is found 100 meters underground and examines the universe’s tiniest particles.
It is a 27-kilometer ring of superconducting magnets with a number of accelerating structures to boost the energy of particles.
Inside the accelerator, two high-energy particle beams travel at close to the speed of light before they are made to collide.
Scientists then record the resulting events caused by the collision.
They hope it will tell us more about how the universe began and what it’s made of.
