Cern scientists break energy level record

Scientists say a Big Bang machine is now able to operate at a record new energy level, improving the prospect of scientific breakthroughs.

Researchers at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (Cern) say the $10 billion (SFr9.2 billion) Large Hadron Collider in a 27-kilometre tunnel under Geneva has begun operating at eight trillion electron volts, greater than any previous physics accelerator.

Steve Myers, a director of accelerators and technology at Cern, said two proton beams were brought into collision at a new world record energy level on Thursday.

He said it marked a new round of data collection through the remainder of the year and “increased discovery potential”.