CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. Located in Geneva, Switzerland and France, it covers more than 550 hectares and is home to some of the most advanced scientific research on Earth. CERN is renowned for its groundbreaking discoveries in particle physics, such as the Higgs boson, and its contributions to the development of the World Wide Web. It is also home to some of the most powerful particle accelerators in the world, such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
The laboratory was founded in 1954 by 12 European countries with the aim of furthering scientific knowledge and understanding of the universe. Since then, it has grown to include 22 member states and has become a global leader in particle physics research. At CERN, scientists from around the world collaborate on experiments that explore the fundamental structure of matter. They use powerful particle accelerators to study particles at speeds close to that of light.
This allows them to observe how particles interact with each other and gain insight into the laws of nature. CERN is also home to a number of other research facilities, such as the Antiproton Decelerator (AD) and the Large Electron-Positron Collider (LEP). These facilities are used to study antimatter and other exotic particles. CERN's research has had a profound impact on our understanding of the universe and has helped shape our modern world.
From its contributions to the development of the World Wide Web to its discoveries in particle physics, CERN has been at the forefront of scientific progress for over 60 years.