About
CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), founded in 1954, is the world's largest particle physics laboratory. Besides the LHC and the Higgs boson discovery, CERN invented the World Wide Web (Tim Berners-Lee worked there), developed the technology behind PET medical scanners, and produced the first matter-antimatter experiments. It operates multiple particle accelerators and involves 10,000 scientists from over 100 countries.
Particle physics at CERN and other facilities has revealed the Standard Model — the theory describing all known fundamental particles and forces (except gravity). Quarks, leptons, bosons, and the Higgs field constitute the universe's basic ingredients. The open question of dark matter and dark energy (making up 95% of the universe) drives the next generation of experiments.
# Top 10 CERN and Particle Physics facts
- 1Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web while working at CERN — and gave it to the world for free
- 2The Standard Model of particle physics, confirmed at CERN, describes the forces and particles that make up everything — except 95% of the universe (dark matter and energy)
- 3CERN produces about 10 nanograms of antihydrogen per year — at current rates, enough antimatter to boil a kettle in a billion years
Fascinating Facts
- ◆Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web while working at CERN — and gave it to the world for free
- ◆The Standard Model of particle physics, confirmed at CERN, describes the forces and particles that make up everything — except 95% of the universe (dark matter and energy)
- ◆CERN produces about 10 nanograms of antihydrogen per year — at current rates, enough antimatter to boil a kettle in a billion years
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