THEY WILL ACTIVATE THE LARGE HADRON COLLIDER ON THE DAY OF THE TOTAL SUN ECLIPSE TO SEARCH FOR INVISIBLE PARTICLES

APRIL 8, IN ADDITION TO BEING THE EXPECTED DAY OF A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE IN NORTH AMERICA, WILL ALSO BE THE DAY ON WHICH THE LARGE HADRON COLLIDER REIGNITS ITS SEARCH FOR DARK MATTER

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) of the European Organization for Nuclear Research, better known as CERN, is preparing for an unprecedented mission this April 8. Coinciding with the total solar eclipse in North America, the LHC, the largest and most powerful particle accelerator in the world, aims to collide protons at near-light speeds. This experiment seeks to unravel one of the greatest mysteries of the universe: the existence of invisible particles that could be the key to the hidden power that sustains our cosmos.

Since its confirmation in 2012 of the existence of one of 17 different families of particles suggested by scientific theories, CERN has restarted the LHC in hopes of revealing more secrets of the universe, specifically, dark matter. Previously, preliminary tests were performed by sending billions of protons around the LHC's ring of superconducting magnets to boost its energy and ensure the $4 billion machine was in optimal operating condition.

The next stage involves sending these protons through a 27-kilometer (17-mile) tunnel at nearly the speed of light to recreate conditions existing one second after the Big Bang. This experiment not only aims to advance the understanding of dark matter, which is estimated to make up around 28% of the universe, but also to provide insights into the formation of the universe and even its final destiny.

It is important to note that the use of protons by CERN researchers is due to their greater weight, which allows for less energy loss per turn in the accelerator compared to other particles such as photons. This meticulous process requires precise coordination, akin to "working like an orchestra," according to Rende Steerenberg, head of operations in the control room at CERN in Switzerland.

The purpose of the LHC goes beyond particle physics; It allows scientists to test predictions from various theories, including measuring the properties of the Higgs boson, also known as the "God particle." This particle was a missing piece of the puzzle for physicists, helping them understand how the universe works. It is believed that a fraction of a second after the Big Bang, an invisible field known as the Higgs field formed. As particles passed through this field, they gained mass, which gave them size and shape, allowing the formation of the atoms that make up everything in the universe.

The fact that the largest particle accelerator in the world will be turned on after two years on the day of the total eclipse has generated numerous speculation, since this powerful device has always generated a share of mystification. However, it is not clear that the event has an esoteric or cosmic meaning, far from it, as some suggest.