The New Director of Cern Has a Surprising First Move: Shutting Down the LHC.
When Mark Thomson takes over as director general of Cern, one of the world's premier nuclear physics laboratories, on January 1st, many will be watching with bated breath. But before he can dive headfirst into the complex world of subatomic particles and groundbreaking research, Thomson has a rather unusual first move. On his very first day in office, he announces that he intends to shut down the LHC, Cern's iconic Large Hadron Collider.
The 27-kilometer-long machine is a marvel of modern engineering, capable of recreating the conditions that existed just microseconds after the Big Bang. It's where scientists like Thomson have spent years studying the mysteries of the universe, and it's won numerous accolades, including multiple Nobel Prizes. But for Thomson, the shutdown isn't a disappointment – quite the opposite.
Instead, he's relishing the prospect of five years of analysis, physics results, and potentially groundbreaking discoveries. The machine is "running brilliantly" according to him, with an unprecedented amount of data being recorded. This is the perfect opportunity for scientists like Thomson to dive into the complex world of subatomic particles, exploring theories that could unlock some of humanity's most enduring mysteries.
Thomson himself has a fascinating story behind his passion for science. The son of comprehensive school teachers, he stumbled upon physics by reading popular books about Cern when he was just an early teenager. "It kind of set my direction," he says with a grin. For him, understanding the universe is all about unraveling its underlying mechanics.
But before the five-year stint, Thomson has to confront a much larger challenge on his watch – the future of Cern itself. As the LHC reaches its lifespan around 2041, the world's scientific community must come together to decide what comes next. The frontrunner is the Future Circular Collider (FCC), an enormous machine that would surpass even the LHC in scale and size.
However, with an estimated price tag of £14 billion and no guarantees of groundbreaking discoveries, the prospect of building such a massive machine raises many questions. Will it address some of humanity's most enduring scientific enigmas? Only time will tell.
For Thomson, though, this is the ultimate challenge – to push science forward without sacrificing its fundamental nature. "We've not got to the point where we have stopped making discoveries," he insists. His tenure may be all about navigating the next chapter in Cern's illustrious history.
When Mark Thomson takes over as director general of Cern, one of the world's premier nuclear physics laboratories, on January 1st, many will be watching with bated breath. But before he can dive headfirst into the complex world of subatomic particles and groundbreaking research, Thomson has a rather unusual first move. On his very first day in office, he announces that he intends to shut down the LHC, Cern's iconic Large Hadron Collider.
The 27-kilometer-long machine is a marvel of modern engineering, capable of recreating the conditions that existed just microseconds after the Big Bang. It's where scientists like Thomson have spent years studying the mysteries of the universe, and it's won numerous accolades, including multiple Nobel Prizes. But for Thomson, the shutdown isn't a disappointment – quite the opposite.
Instead, he's relishing the prospect of five years of analysis, physics results, and potentially groundbreaking discoveries. The machine is "running brilliantly" according to him, with an unprecedented amount of data being recorded. This is the perfect opportunity for scientists like Thomson to dive into the complex world of subatomic particles, exploring theories that could unlock some of humanity's most enduring mysteries.
Thomson himself has a fascinating story behind his passion for science. The son of comprehensive school teachers, he stumbled upon physics by reading popular books about Cern when he was just an early teenager. "It kind of set my direction," he says with a grin. For him, understanding the universe is all about unraveling its underlying mechanics.
But before the five-year stint, Thomson has to confront a much larger challenge on his watch – the future of Cern itself. As the LHC reaches its lifespan around 2041, the world's scientific community must come together to decide what comes next. The frontrunner is the Future Circular Collider (FCC), an enormous machine that would surpass even the LHC in scale and size.
However, with an estimated price tag of £14 billion and no guarantees of groundbreaking discoveries, the prospect of building such a massive machine raises many questions. Will it address some of humanity's most enduring scientific enigmas? Only time will tell.
For Thomson, though, this is the ultimate challenge – to push science forward without sacrificing its fundamental nature. "We've not got to the point where we have stopped making discoveries," he insists. His tenure may be all about navigating the next chapter in Cern's illustrious history.
gotta say, shutting down the LHC on day one is like, a bold move 
. i mean, it's not like they're just gonna sit around twiddling their thumbs while waiting for the 5-year analysis to finish 
. what if something new comes up that changes everything? or what if someone else builds a better machine before we even get the FCC off the ground 
. and £14 billion? that's some serious cash 
. i'm not saying it can't be done, but let's not forget that science is all about progress, not just throwing money at problems 
. i'll believe it when i see it 
! Like, I get that it's a huge machine and all, but think of it as a reboot for Cern 
. Five years to analyze those tons of data they're collecting is gonna be insane 
. And you know what? I'm all about exploring theories that could unlock some major mysteries 
. It's like, we've been trying to figure out the universe for centuries, and now we've got a fresh start 
. The question is, will the Future Circular Collider live up to its hype? Only time (and £14 billion 
. plus, the data they've already collected is insane! 5 years of analysis sounds like a solid plan 
. we'll have to wait and see what Thomson comes up with next, but i'm intrigued 
! Shutting down the LHC to start a 5-year analysis phase is genius 
. Can't wait to see what comes next! 
I mean, I get it, he wants to dive into analyzing all that data they've been collecting 
.
. But, on the other hand, £14 billion for the FCC? That's a whole lotta cash 
. Mark Thomson seems like a cool dude who's all about unraveling the mysteries of the universe 
It's like being a detective and solving the whole case before you even started gathering clues! 
. i mean, thomson wants 2 analyze & explore data b4 makin moves on new colliders. but honestly, who knows if the FCC will even make a diff 
. lets just say im all 4 cern's next move 
. watever they decide, its def gonna be intresting 
.
! I mean, I know we need more time to analyze the data and stuff, but 5 years? That's a looong time without that sweet sweet particle accelerator action 
. The thought of the FCC being built in the future is kinda exciting, though 
), but shutting it down now is a pretty radical choice 
.