Top 10 Most Mind Boggling Facts About CERN’s Large Hadron Collider

CERN is well-known in the world due to its discovery of the Higgs Boson particle, which is said to enable particles to add up its mass as it travel through the Higgs field. Named after Peters Higgs, who first predicted the idea in 1964, the substance discovered is also known as the “God particle.”

At present, CERN, which is the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is recognized to be the biggest particle physics laboratory in the world.

Here are 10 things about CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which revealed wonderful facts about physics and beyond.

1. CERN’s LHC is the largest machine in the world.

CERN measures 575 feet in depth and its tunnel boast a circuit that runs for about 17 miles. According to scientists, the laboratory was created underground as the Earth’s crust is said to have protective powers against radiation. Some also claims that it was buried as a sign of respect for the natural landscape, which may appear confusing given that the machine may significantly be damaged down there.

2. Gravitational Pull at its best

LHC's intricate magnet coils and strands

The gravitational pull of LHC is so great because it contains 9,000 super magnets, making it more than the gravity of the Earth.

The magnet coils of the LHC are composed of 36 twisted strands that measures about 15 millimeter each and is comprised of 6,000-9,000 single filaments. Each filament has a diameter of seven micrometers.

The entire LHC needs 4,100 miles of cable, which is equivalent to 145,000 miles of strands. Such number is sufficient to circle the Earth six times at the Equator and reach the Sun and back five times, with a little more left to embark on a few more trips to the moon.

3. Hotter Than The Sun

CERN's impecable hot temperature is beyond imaginable!

Another mind-blowing fact about CERN is that it is extremely hot, hot, hot. The temperature of the super collider is comparable to that of the condition after the Big Bang. It is also 100,00 times higher than that of the Sun’s center! Such temperatures can be attained by speeding up and putting together two beams of heavy ions.

4. Potential Doom

Physicist Stephen Hawking strongly opposes CERN's works, saying it could lead the world to a potential doom.

Despite the amazing scientific breakthroughs that CERN boast, some scholars are not pleased. For one, Stephen Hawking said that the God particle being developed by CERN could destroy the entire planet.

Astrophysicist Neil de Grasse Tyson agreed with Hawking saying, “Ask yourself: How much energy is keeping it together? Then you put more than that amount of energy into the object.” Tyson was confident of the result: “It will explode.”

One German expert by the name of Otto Rossler even filed a lawsuit against CERN in 2008, with a main argument that the LHC could trigger a mini black hole that could annihilate the planet.

5. Door To Another Dimension

CERN is also said to pave the way for our four-dimensional world to see another time-space dimension. A year after CERN was launched, Sergio Bertolucci, former Director for Research and Scientific Computing of the facility could open a door to another world for a very tiny lapse time. While it may be very brief, it could help people take a peak of what’s in there or send something to that world. He iterated, however that there will be no threats to the world’s stability.

6. CERN’s Location: Coincidence or Meaningful?

CERN is located in a French town called “Saint-Genus-Poilly.” Pouilly comes from the Latin word, “Appolliacum.” During the Roman empire, a temple in honor of Apollo was built by people who believes that it is a gateway to the underworld. Creepy, eh?

7. Dark Matter

Dark matter: part of CERN's mission.

As per estimates, the physical matter we sense right now accounts for only four percent of the entire universe. What then comprise the 96 percent? It’s dark matter. Part of CERN’s goals is to search for that dark matter/energy through smashing atoms.

The creepy part is that no one knows what will happen if those elusive particles are discovered.

8. The Logo

Even CERN’s logo shouts unprecedented though-provoking feature.

Here is the CERN logo, by the way…

Cannot seem to find anything unusual? Look again, but this time focus on the three intertwined number 6s.

Can you see the triple 6?

9. Destruction deity as corporate mascot?

Dancing deity of destruction as CERN's corporate mascot? Interesting!

Just when things could not get any creepier… CERN has chosen Hindu goddess Shiva to represent their company. Aside from a corporate institution mixing religion with science, what’s more puzzling is the fact that they chose the goddess of destruction and death to represent them. Errr… I have to say it’s scary…

10. Secret operations

LHC inspector probably in the middle of 'secret' job.

Considering that CERN is performing massive atomic-smashing experiments, which according to experts may be more hazardous than atomic bomb tests, little is reported in the media. This is because CERN’s operations are as elusive as the particles they aim to discover.

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