Mark Thomson, a prominent figure in experimental particle physics, has landed the coveted job of director general at Cern, the renowned nuclear physics laboratory on the outskirts of Geneva. But amidst his excitement for the new role, there's a peculiar twist - he plans to shut down the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) after just five years.
For those unfamiliar with the LHC, it's the largest scientific instrument ever built, capable of recreating conditions that existed microseconds after the Big Bang. The machine has made groundbreaking discoveries, including the detection of the mysterious Higgs boson, whose presence gives space its 'glue'. However, Thomson's plan to turn off the machine for engineering work raises eyebrows. It won't be restarted until his term is nearly over.
Thomson seems unfazed by this decision. In fact, he appears relishing the prospect of what the next five years hold. The LHC is running remarkably well and producing a plethora of data that will keep physicists busy for years to come. This upgrade is set to revolutionize our understanding of subatomic particles and their interactions.
Thomson's enthusiasm for his new role is contagious, but there's another significant challenge on the horizon - the Future Circular Collider (FCC). A massive project, estimated to cost over £14 billion, this colossal machine would be three times larger than the LHC. While it promises unparalleled discoveries, there are doubts about its necessity and the feasibility of such a costly endeavor.
Critics argue that Cern's dominance in particle physics is under threat, as other countries like the US and China plan their own advanced colliders. With no clear prize to aim for, Thomson faces an uphill battle. The question on everyone's mind - will this new machine answer some of the universe's most fundamental mysteries? Only time will tell.
As Thomson embarks on his five-year tenure, one thing is certain - he'll be pushing the boundaries of human understanding like never before. Whether Cern retains its pre-eminence in particle physics remains to be seen, but Thomson's unwavering dedication to this pursuit is a testament to the enduring power of scientific inquiry.
For those unfamiliar with the LHC, it's the largest scientific instrument ever built, capable of recreating conditions that existed microseconds after the Big Bang. The machine has made groundbreaking discoveries, including the detection of the mysterious Higgs boson, whose presence gives space its 'glue'. However, Thomson's plan to turn off the machine for engineering work raises eyebrows. It won't be restarted until his term is nearly over.
Thomson seems unfazed by this decision. In fact, he appears relishing the prospect of what the next five years hold. The LHC is running remarkably well and producing a plethora of data that will keep physicists busy for years to come. This upgrade is set to revolutionize our understanding of subatomic particles and their interactions.
Thomson's enthusiasm for his new role is contagious, but there's another significant challenge on the horizon - the Future Circular Collider (FCC). A massive project, estimated to cost over £14 billion, this colossal machine would be three times larger than the LHC. While it promises unparalleled discoveries, there are doubts about its necessity and the feasibility of such a costly endeavor.
Critics argue that Cern's dominance in particle physics is under threat, as other countries like the US and China plan their own advanced colliders. With no clear prize to aim for, Thomson faces an uphill battle. The question on everyone's mind - will this new machine answer some of the universe's most fundamental mysteries? Only time will tell.
As Thomson embarks on his five-year tenure, one thing is certain - he'll be pushing the boundaries of human understanding like never before. Whether Cern retains its pre-eminence in particle physics remains to be seen, but Thomson's unwavering dedication to this pursuit is a testament to the enduring power of scientific inquiry.
. The thing is, they're already making so much groundbreaking data with it as it is... shouldn't we be exploring all that info instead of taking it offline? Plus, I'm not sure if the FCC project is even worth the £14 billion price tag 
. It's like, what's the hurry? Don't get me wrong, Mark Thomson seems cool and all, but I just don't see the rush to start building this new collider 
. Can we just enjoy the discoveries they're already making with the LHC instead of stressing about what's next?
it's like a huge setback for all those scientists working on it rn... 
i mean thomson seems super enthusiastic about his new role, but shutting down the LHC in 5 years is gonna be a major letdown for many people 
[
. But on the other hand, it's hard to deny that this machine is still churning out mind-blowing data 
. If Thompson can deliver on his promise to upgrade and innovate 
, then maybe we'll see some incredible breakthroughs in the next few years 
.
. Not to mention that we're already seeing China and the US catching up with their own advanced colliders 
. It's like, what's the real prize here? 
. I mean, that machine has been giving us some mind-blowing discoveries and it's still running smoothly? It'd be crazy to turn it off now 
. Plus, with the FCC on the horizon, it feels like Cern is already investing in another massive project 
And on top of that, the FCC is like, this massive £14 billion project... are they really sure we need another collider that big?! 
It's like, okay, let's take our time to think about this one before breaking the bank!