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I think this research is fascinating. Investigating the origins of the universe is paramount. Gathering scientific data about fundamental particles, and their nature will uncover new exciting technologies. The more we understand about physics the more progress we will make as a species.

GENEVA – Scientists moved Saturday to prepare the world’s largest atom smasher for exploring the depths of matter after successfully restarting the $10 billion machine following more than a year of repairs.[Source]

After a year of repair, and a faulty startup the Large Hadron Collider is up and running again. With new upgrades, new software and lofty goals I forsee much progress to be made. I myself am excited. Particles will be smashed together at near the speed of light; nearer to the speed of light than ever before in history.

There are two things, that I understand, that may be investigated; or hopefully investigated. The mythological Higgs Boson, the so called force particle can be sought. The standard model, the list of the known fundamental particles that have been found in particle colliders has a few gaps. One gap is clearly gravity, but that is a whole other ballgame, and a topic for another time. The Higgs Boson is the fundamental particule that is supposed to transmitt force, which will fill a big gap on the Standard Model. They may also be able to test certain aspect of String Theory, but this is pure speculation on my part. I do not know exactly what can be tested or not, but frankly I think String theory is an exciting concept.