The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), a 27 kilometer (17 mile) long particle accelerator straddling the border of Switzerland and France, is nearly set to begin its first particle beam tests. The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) is preparing for its first small tests in early August, leading to a planned full-track test in September – and the first planned particle collisions before the end of the year. The final step before starting is the chilling of the entire collider to -271.25 C (-456.25 F). Here is a collection of photographs from CERN, showing various stages of completion of the LHC and several of its larger experiments (some over seven stories tall), over the past several years. (27 photos total)
(via Dark Roasted Blend)
August 5, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Looks like it’s time to plan that end of the world party….
August 6, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Oh, come on! The Hadron collider almost certainly won’t create mini black holes sucking all of earth into a singularity. It’ll probably just act as a beacon, attracting the attention of the evil interdimensional imperium. One has to keep things like this in perspective. Time to start that we’re-all-going-to-be-mind-controlled-cattle-bred-for-food-and-sadistic-amusement party.