Large Hadron Collider to shut down for 2 years
- Published
Bang Goes The Theory's Jem Stansfield explains how the LHC works
The Large Hadron Collider (or LHC) is being switched off for repairs.
Protons are fired through a huge ring 16 miles in circumference
It contains 9,300 magnets cooled to -271.3 degrees Celsius
It's officially the world's largest fridge
The protons go round the collider 11,245 times every second
It's the world's biggest experiment - to try to help us understand more about the origins of the Universe.
It exists 100m below ground in a 16-mile-long tunnel on the border between France and Switzerland.
It works by smashing tiny particles together at close to the speed of light. But now, the machine is being closed down until the end of 2014 so it can be repaired to run better.
In 2012 it produced a major breakthrough - by finding the probable explanation for why things physically exist - something scientists have been struggling with for decades.
Watch Nel's report to find out more.