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New CERN Chief Eyes Deeper Universe Secrets
1 Apr
Summary
- CERN's LHC prepares for a two-year upgrade to higher energy levels.
- Director Thomson seeks answers on dark matter and the Higgs boson.
- New director leads world's largest particle physics laboratory.

Mark Thomson has been appointed as the new director general of CERN, the renowned particle physics laboratory situated near Geneva, Switzerland. This facility operates the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), an instrument that accelerates particles to near light speed to explore the universe's fundamental nature. CERN is globally recognized for its significant contributions, including the 2012 discovery of the Higgs boson and its leading role in antimatter research.
Currently, the LHC is scheduled for a two-year shutdown to undergo crucial upgrades, enabling it to operate at higher energy levels. This period is seen as pivotal for advancing physics research. Director General Thomson expressed enthusiasm about addressing profound scientific questions, such as the existence and properties of dark matter and whether the Higgs boson interacts with it. He conveyed confidence that these major scientific mysteries will eventually be solved.