Smashing atoms could give clues to the Universe's beginnings. Apparently, the "atom smasher" broke a record today and could usher in a new era of physics.
“It’s a great day to be a particle physicist,” said CERN1 Director General Rolf Heuer. “A lot of people have waited a long time for this moment, but their patience and dedication is starting to pay dividends.” Read more
CERN's twitter stream was very excited today.
Scientists know that only 4 percent of the matter in the universe is actually visible. The rest, according to theory, is a mix of so-called dark matter and dark energy. But by looking at the subatomic debris from these collisions, scientists are hoping they can sort out what those invisible sources of energy and matter are.
The 'God' Particle
The ultimate prize would be to find a particle called the Higgs-Boson — it's the linchpin of modern physics. It's been predicted by a theory called the Standard Model. Some people even call it the "God particle." That's because this particle could help explain how the energy from the Big Bang turned into mass.
"This will give us a clue of how we were created in the beginning," CERN scientist Despiona Hatzifotiadu told AFP.
Scientists know that only 4 percent of the matter in the universe is actually visible. The rest, according to theory, is a mix of so-called dark matter and dark energy. But by looking at the subatomic debris from these collisions, scientists are hoping they can sort out what those invisible sources of energy and matter are.
The 'God' Particle
The ultimate prize would be to find a particle called the Higgs-Boson — it's the linchpin of modern physics. It's been predicted by a theory called the Standard Model. Some people even call it the "God particle." That's because this particle could help explain how the energy from the Big Bang turned into mass.
"This will give us a clue of how we were created in the beginning," CERN scientist Despiona Hatzifotiadu told AFP. NPR
