Inside the Machines That Smash Atoms
Particle accelerators are some of the biggest and most powerful scientific tools ever built, and they are changing what we know about the universe.
Scientists around the world use giant machines called particle accelerators to study the smallest pieces of matter in the universe. These machines push tiny particles to almost the speed of light, then smash them into each other. The crash creates debris that scientists examine to learn how everything is built. A BBC radio program called 'In Our Time' recently brought together experts to explain how these machines work and why they matter.
The most famous particle accelerator is the Large Hadron Collider, also known as the LHC. It is a massive ring-shaped tunnel that stretches nearly 30 kilometers underground, running beneath the border between France and Switzerland. Because it is so large, the machine can push particles to incredible speeds before they collide. The huge size of the tunnel is what makes such powerful collisions possible.
When particles smash together inside the LHC, they break apart and release energy and smaller pieces. Scientists study this wreckage very carefully to find clues about how the universe works. This process helped researchers discover the Higgs Boson, a particle that explains why matter has mass. Finding the Higgs Boson was one of the biggest moments in science in recent history.
Building a machine like the LHC costs billions of pounds and requires many countries to work together. These are truly international projects, meaning scientists and engineers from all over the world cooperate to make them run. Thousands of smaller particle accelerators also exist around the world, and they do important work in hospitals, museums, and technology labs. Most people never hear about these smaller machines, but they make a big difference.
Particle accelerators are used in ways that might surprise you. Doctors use them to treat cancer by targeting tumors with beams of particles. Archaeologists use them to study ancient objects without causing any damage. So while these machines may seem like tools only for big science, their benefits touch many parts of daily life.
The resulting debris offers insights into the fundamental building blocks of our universe, such as the Higgs Boson Particle.
Comprehension quiz preview
1. How long is the tunnel that houses the Large Hadron Collider?
2. Which particle was discovered using the Large Hadron Collider?
3. Where is the Large Hadron Collider located?