Future of Particle Physics Explored at CERN's Large Hadron Collider
Scientists discuss upgrades to the LHC and plans for a future circular collider, alongside research into cloud formation and soil regeneration.
Scientists are preparing for significant upgrades to CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's most powerful particle accelerator. The High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) upgrade will see the particle beams powered down to allow for new installations in the approximately 100-meter deep tunnels beneath Switzerland.
Paulo Fessia, deputy head of the HL-LHC project, is overseeing the work. While the collider is being upgraded, researchers are also utilizing its machinery for distinct research. Antti Onnela is explaining how the equipment, when not used for particle collisions, is employed to study cloud formation. This research involves observing cloud birth from aerosol particles in a specialized chamber, with the goal of informing climate models.
Looking further ahead, discussions are underway regarding the Future Circular Collider (FCC), a proposed project that would be significantly larger than the current LHC, approximately 3.4 times its size, with an estimated cost of £14 billion. Guy Wilkinson advocates for the project, believing its cost is justified by its scientific potential.
Beyond particle physics and climate science, the project also addresses environmental sustainability. Plant scientist Christiana Staudinger is leading the OpenSkyLab project, which aims to regenerate soil by utilizing substrate cleared for new tunnel construction. This initiative seeks to replenish the world's dwindling soil resources.
The BBC Inside Science program featured insights from these researchers, detailing the ongoing work and future aspirations at CERN. The program was produced by Ella Hubber, Katie Tomsett, and Ed Prendeville, with editing by Ilan Goodman and production coordination by Jana Bennett-Holesworth.