LHC Begins Smashing Particles

The Large Hadron Collider, the $10-billion international scientific wonder in Geneva, finally began smashing subatomic particles together at energy levels three times earlier records Tuesday. The collider has a 17-mile circumference and hurls together protons from two particle beams, and it will help scientists test theories in particle physics. Scientists around the globe huddled together to watch the breakthrough moment. At Caltech, "There were cheers in all the control rooms," a physicist told the Los Angeles Times. "As soon as we get the data, we're analyzing it... It's been a long time coming." Another added, "Some people have been waiting 15, 20 years. ... it's late, but it's worth it."