Inside the Big Bang? Literally!

Geneva’s CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s largest particle accelerator, has become much better known in recent years, in part thanks to the efforts of the fictional Sheldon Cooper of “The Big Bang Theory” renown.

CERN is a French acronym for the European Organization for Nuclear research, and it is most well known for its 23 kilometre (about 14 miles) long particle accelerator, the largest in the world, which is buried 100 meters underground. Unless you are one of the lucky few you won’t actually see the device, but CERN has kindly provided an amazing opportunity to explore the world of quantum physics in unique and fun way. The visible structures are impressive enough with the first thing most visitors see being the Globe of Science and Innovation. Designed for the Swiss National Exhibition, Expo ’02 it is now located at front of CERN. The Globe, which is composed of five different types of timber and acts as a natural carbon sink, has absolutely nothing specifically to do with physics but looks really cool parked in front of the facility.

The Globe of Science and Innovation

As a fitting metaphor for the quantum concept of “existing in two states,” the CERN is located partly in France as well as Switzerland. CERN’s many interactive displays are geared to both students and adults who can challenge themselves to various simulations of tasks required to run the LHC. They are housed in tubular buildings which mimic the structure of the LHC.

One particularly fun activity requires participants to coordinate magnetic fields to accelerate a metal ball the same way the LHC accelerates particles. My favourite, however, was the half hour immersive electron experience. To start with, an image was scanned of me in two different positions. I then found myself progressing through a colourful maze interacting with a virtual world that shows what it’s like to exist at the subatomic level. Electrons exist in two states, particle and energy, so the experience was to say the least both strange and exhilarating. A photo or two will illustrate this far better than I can describe.

For those of you who think Marvel invented the multiverse, I am afraid I have some bad news. Quantum physics predicted the presence of multiple parallel universes decades ago. In fact it is one of the only reasons that explains why quantum physics actually works. If all this weirdness scrambles your brain a bit and you are in need of refreshment at the end of your visit, go to CERN’s “Big Bang Cafe” for a drink or a snack.

For more information on a visit to CERN, click here: https://home.cern/

Or ask Sheldon Cooper…

A Gallery of the CERN visit
Click images to expand and start a slide show