Large Hadron Collider smashes energy record

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN has reached the record-breaking energy of 13 TeV (teraelectronvolts).

At #LHC, beams are stable and the first collisions took place! #13TeV Historic first! @CERNhttp://t.co/vXIiQ6xQNkpic.twitter.com/KsyskpUxni

— euronews (@euronews) June 3, 2015

So what does this mean for research into gravity and the origin of mass?

Dave Charlton, Atlas Experiment spokesperson, explains:

“It means that we can probe to higher energies to produce higher mass particles and also to shorter distances than we’ve been to before. So we’re taking a step forward in the sensitivity (of the machine) to possible new physics.”

In the LHC particle accelerator, protons are now whizzing around a 27-kilometre track, 11,245 times every second.

It was shut down for over two years for millions of euros’ worth of maintenance and upgrade work, designed to provide almost twice the collision energy of its original run.

The restart is expected to provide an insight into the origin of mass, as well as discoveries surrounding matter and antimatter. These, it is hoped, will help scientists to solve some of the fundamental questions of our Universe.