For most people the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is a machine hidden deep inside the border between Switzerland and France that most will never see or fully understand. But that can change, thanks to a Google+ Hangout the LHC scientists are hosting.
Starting at 10 a.m. PST, “physics professor Dr. Joe Incandela will take your questions from deep underground in the cathedral-sized Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experimental cavern, in front of the 14,000-tonne particle detector,” wrote the LHC team on Google+.
Participants will also get to hear from Dr. Sue Ann Koay in the control room for a CMS experiment that detects particles after they are smashed together by the collider nearly at the speed of light.
The collider, which was built by the European Organization for Nuclear Research over a span of 10 years, is used to test theories of particle physics and high-energy physics, with the hope of further understanding the laws of nature.
So far the Google+ Hangout announcement has collected more than 500 shares and 71 comments from people thrilled at the opportunity to see inside the world’s largest particle accelerator.
“While I don’t understand 1/100 of what you’re doing, just being able to watch this live will be enjoyable,” commented PGP Protector. “I’ve enjoyed learning physics via books (audible books mostly) but just knowing that you’re all pushing the limits of what we know is exciting.”
Photo from conradmelvin
