A European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) scientist controls a computer screen monitoring the Atlas experiment of the first protons injected in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) during its switch-on operation at CERN's press center on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008, near Geneva, Switzerland. Scientists fired protons around a 17-mile tunnel housing the LHC hoping to recreate conditions just after the so-called "Big Bang."
European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) scientists control a computer screen monitoring the Atlas experiment of the first protons injected in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) during its switch-on operation at CERN's press center on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008, near Geneva, Switzerland. An international group of scientists plan to smash particles together to create, on a small scale, reenactments of the "Big Bang."
European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) scientists control computer screens monitoring the Atlas experiment of the first protons injected in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) during its switch on operation at the CERN's press center on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008, near Geneva, Switzerland.
LHC project leader Lyn Evans of Great Britain gestures as other European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) scientists look on at the CERN's control center, during the switch-on operation of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's largest particle collider, in Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008. The LHC successfully completed its first major test by firing a beam of protons around a 17-mile tunnel.
The wooden "Globe" at the entrance of the European Center for Nuclear Research, CERN, is seen near Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008. The world's largest particle collider successfully completed its first major test by firing a beam of protons all the way around a 17-mile tunnel Wednesday in what scientists hope is the next great step to understanding the makeup of the universe.
A woman reads near a symbolic LHC tunnel in front of the wooden "Globe" at the entrance of the European Center for Nuclear Research, CERN, near Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008.
Buildings of the European Center for Nuclear Research, CERN, are seen near Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008. The world's largest particle collider successfully completed its first major test by firing a beam of protons all the way around a 17-mile tunnel Wednesday in what scientists hope is the next great step to understanding the makeup of the universe.
A view of the LHC (large hadron collider) in its tunnel at CERN May 31, 2007, near Geneva, Switzerland. Scientists started the Large Hadron Collider LHC on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008, for the first time and successfully sent a beam of particles through the 17-mile-long ring of the huge LHC. The first beam took 53 minutes to complete the circuit in this first test run.
The magnet core of the world's largest superconducting solenoid magnet (CMS, Compact Muon Solenoid) at European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN)'s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) particle accelerator, in Geneva, Switzerland, March 22, 2007. Scientists of the CERN started the Large Hadron Collider on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008, for the first time.
Spectators look at the giant magnet Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) being placed underground in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) accelerator Feb. 28, 2007, at CERN, in Cressy, France near Geneva, Switzerland. Scientists of the CERN started the Large Hadron Collider LHC on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008 for the first time and successfully sent a beam of particles through the 17-mile ring of the huge LHC.
In this picture, People stand next to the giant magnet Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) being placed underground in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) accelerator at CERN Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007, in Cressy, France.
A look at where CERN's Large Hadron Collider is located and how it works.