Large Hadron Collider set for action

After its long-awaited restart was put back due to an accident involving a rogue piece of baguette, it seems that the Large Hadron Collider will finally be back in action this weekend.

The world's largest particle accelerator, the LHC is the work of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) and resides in 17 miles of tunnels in an underground complex near Geneva, Switzerland.

Web User's guide to the Large Hadron Collider

First switched on back in September 2008, the £5bn project was put out of action just days later when helium leaked into the system, leading to a further £24m spend on repairs.

The purpose of the LHC is to prove or disprove the existence of Higgs Bosun, otherwise known as the God particle, by recreating the conditions of the 'big bang' thought to have brought the universe into existence.

To do this, protons and ions will be sent around the LHC at near to light speed with the aim of making them collide with each other.

The restart was further delayed when a piece of baguette dropped by a passing bird caused a short circuit in the system.


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