Mark Thomson, a Cambridge professor of experimental particle physics, has been appointed as the new director general of Cern, a multi-Nobel prizewinning nuclear physics laboratory on the outskirts of Geneva. While he's thrilled about his new role, many are left wondering if he's actually taking one for the team - by turning off the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's largest scientific instrument, for a major five-year upgrade.
The LHC is an extraordinary machine that recreates conditions billions of years after the Big Bang. It's where scientists discovered the Higgs boson, whose field holds the universe together like cosmic glue. Yet, one of Thomson's first moves will be to shut down the collider - a decision that'll leave scientists waiting with bated breath.
"It's running beautifully and we're recording vast amounts of data," Thomson says about the current state of the LHC. "There's plenty to analyze over the next five years, and our physics results will keep coming." But he doesn't seem too fazed by the temporary shutdown. Instead, he appears excited about the upgrade, which promises to make the collider ten times more powerful.
The high-luminosity LHC project is a game-changer for particle physics research. It'll enable scientists to study particles with unprecedented precision and could reveal new insights into fundamental theories of the universe. However, some worry that it might not be worth the investment, especially given that the current LHC is nearing its lifespan - around 2041.
A far more ambitious project, the Future Circular Collider (FCC), is on the horizon. If approved by Cern's member states in 2028, it'll require a massive $15 billion investment over two stages, spanning from the late 2040s to the 2070s. While some see it as a vital step forward for human understanding, others question whether it's truly necessary and will deliver tangible results.
Thomson acknowledges that there are risks associated with the FCC, but he believes it's an opportunity to push the boundaries of science further. "We've not got to the point where we have stopped making discoveries," he says. "Our goal is to understand the universe at its most fundamental level."
The LHC is an extraordinary machine that recreates conditions billions of years after the Big Bang. It's where scientists discovered the Higgs boson, whose field holds the universe together like cosmic glue. Yet, one of Thomson's first moves will be to shut down the collider - a decision that'll leave scientists waiting with bated breath.
"It's running beautifully and we're recording vast amounts of data," Thomson says about the current state of the LHC. "There's plenty to analyze over the next five years, and our physics results will keep coming." But he doesn't seem too fazed by the temporary shutdown. Instead, he appears excited about the upgrade, which promises to make the collider ten times more powerful.
The high-luminosity LHC project is a game-changer for particle physics research. It'll enable scientists to study particles with unprecedented precision and could reveal new insights into fundamental theories of the universe. However, some worry that it might not be worth the investment, especially given that the current LHC is nearing its lifespan - around 2041.
A far more ambitious project, the Future Circular Collider (FCC), is on the horizon. If approved by Cern's member states in 2028, it'll require a massive $15 billion investment over two stages, spanning from the late 2040s to the 2070s. While some see it as a vital step forward for human understanding, others question whether it's truly necessary and will deliver tangible results.
Thomson acknowledges that there are risks associated with the FCC, but he believes it's an opportunity to push the boundaries of science further. "We've not got to the point where we have stopped making discoveries," he says. "Our goal is to understand the universe at its most fundamental level."
! He's gonna take this place to the next level, I can feel it 
. The LHC upgrade is gonna be huge 
, we'll be learning more about the universe in no time 
. But for real tho, $15 billion on a new collider? That's some serious cash 
. Some ppl are worried it might not be worth it, but I think Thomson has a vision 
and he's all about pushing boundaries 
.
. And if this FCC thing goes down, we could make some groundbreaking discoveries 
. It's a risk, but it's one that Thomson is willing to take 
. I'm all for it 
, let's see where this journey takes us 
what's going on with cern? i mean, they're basically shutting down the biggest machine ever built just so it can be upgraded 
but isn't that like... wasting resources? 
and then there's this new project that's supposed to be way more powerful but who knows if it's even worth the cash 
. I mean, can you imagine waiting for 5 whole years just to upgrade a machine? 
Thomson seems pretty chill about it though, and I guess it's true that there's plenty of data to analyze over the next five years 
. But still, I'm Team LHC all the way 
. And omg, the FCC is a whole other can of worms 
. $15 billion? That's wild 
. Fingers crossed for some mind-blowing discoveries 
. #LHCUpgrade #FCCFuture #ScienceGoals
And now, with the high-luminosity upgrade, scientists will be able to study particles like never before. I'm all for pushing the boundaries of science and exploring the universe at its most fundamental level 
.
It's already running beautifully and they're raking in tons of data. I get the importance of upgrading, but is it really worth disrupting their research flow?
. As long as there are no shortcuts taken or anyone's reputation gets sacrificed, I'm all for it... but let's keep an eye on how things unfold 
I mean, do we really need to build another one after the LHC is already running so well? And what about all those scientists waiting around for 5 years while it gets upgraded? It's like they're saying "Sorry, you'll have to wait a bit longer" 
. And Thomson's just going along with it, saying it's an opportunity to push boundaries... yeah right, someone gotta pay the bills 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to explore the mysteries of the universe even further? 
It's like what would happen in that movie Interstellar - we'd have to keep pushing the limits of science just to stay ahead of the curve 
. Will they find something groundbreaking during the upgrade, or will the FCC be a wild goose chase? Only time will tell 
.
. Thomson's decision, while shrouded in uncertainty, underscores the trade-offs we make as scientists. The thrill of discovery often lies at odds with the fragility of our equipment 
. Will Thomson's vision for a more powerful collider illuminate new paths, or will it simply reflect our own limitations back at us? The wait for answers will be long and arduous 
. think about it, five years of downtime is nothing compared to the groundbreaking discoveries they'll make with the upgraded collider 
. With the high-luminosity LHC project, it's like they're about to unlock a secret doorway to parallel universes 
. Bring on the next breakthroughs and discoveries – my mind is ready for some serious sci-fi excitement 
What if we miss something groundbreaking while they're upgrading? And what's up with this $15 billion investment for the FCC? It's crazy 
. They're basically switching off a machine that's still working great just to upgrade it and make it 10 times more powerful 
.
. But on the other hand, what if we don't know when we can turn it back on and all that data gets lost or something? 
. What do u guys think tho? Should they keep pushing the boundaries of science or just stick with what we know 
On the other hand, the Future Circular Collider (FCC) sounds like a game-changer too - it's like, whoa, $15 billion investment? 
or worse, what if the FCC never gets off the ground and all that cash is just wasted?