CERN Celebrates 70 Years of Particle Physics Discoveries

CERN, the European research center located on the Swiss-French border, is celebrating its 70th anniversary, having been established on May 17, 1954. Over the decades, it has become a pivotal institution in the field of particle physics, known for housing the world's largest particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). This facility has enabled scientists to conduct experiments that replicate conditions of the early universe, leading to significant discoveries such as the Higgs boson in 2012, which confirmed a key aspect of the Standard Model of particle physics. CERN's contributions extend beyond fundamental physics; it is also credited with the invention of the World Wide Web, which has transformed global communication and information sharing. The center's research has had far-reaching implications, influencing various fields including medicine, where technologies developed for particle physics are now used in medical imaging techniques like PET scans. Despite its achievements, CERN faces challenges, including concerns about the potential military applications of its research. The center is also navigating geopolitical tensions, as it plans to formally exclude Russian scientists due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which will impact its funding and collaborative efforts. As CERN looks to the future, it is planning the Future Circular Collider, a project estimated to cost around 15 billion Swiss francs, aimed at furthering our understanding of the universe. The anniversary serves as a reminder of the center's role in promoting science for peace amidst global conflicts.