The Large Hadron Collider facility (LHC) sprang into life today, as scientists turned it on for the first time. Scientists are hoping that the huge underground structure, which fires beams of protons around the 27 kilometre donut shaped tunnel at the speed of light, will give a better understanding of the moments after the Big Bang.
The £5bn facility which is situated on the Swiss-French border has had a troublesome birth, being hugely over budget and two years behind schedule.
Scientists turned the system on this morning around 08:30BST and have been testing firing one beam around the tunnel. Over the coming days and weeks the scientists plan to fire multiple beams of protons in opposite directions; colliding them together at the speed of light.
It is hoped that the Large Hadron Collider will answer some fundamental questions about the universe and its beginnings.
Add A Comment