The $8 billion Large Hadron Collider, of which we have been talking from a long time here, here, and here, is now finally taking shape to operate fully in 2008. recently, it was hit by a major malfunction when a support structure for key magnets failed at some point in routine tests on 27 March.
The project has been in making for the last 13 years. The gigantic circular tunnel that measures 17 miles in circumference is intended to smash protons onto each other at exceptionally high alacrity in a view to photocopy in miniature the events of the Big Bang. The LHC might possible take covers off the exotic physics concepts such as God particle and the extra dimensional theories currently in vogue.
Hope it doesn’t fall prey to any serious glitch now. The superconducting collider is placed three hundred feet below the ground. Check out the slideshow at The NewYorker.
