Man to unlock secrets of the universe

The Universe is a vast wide-open space that comprises smallest particle to the biggest galaxy. No one can judge how big the Universe is. Astronomers use a special instrument called a spectroscope to tell whether an object is moving away from Earth or toward Earth. Based on this, scientists came to know that the Universe is still growing outward in every direction.

Man due to profound curiousness is eager to know about the origin of the universe, i.e. from where he came from; beginning of the universe; and how it will come to an end. Therefore, man has been fascinated by the questions that he had in his mind and has tried his level best in order to search possible scientific answers to them.

According to scientists, a powerful explosion called the ‘Big Bang’ happened about 13.7 billion years ago, which set the Universe into a motion which is continuing till today. Scientists are unaware about the fact that whether this motion will stop, change way, or keep going forever.

The scientists of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research have been carrying out the ‘Big Bang’ Experiment by using the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), to unlock the secrets of the universe. This experiment is being carried out at the Swiss-French Border in a 27 KM tunnel which is 100 meters below ground level. The LHC is used to crash sub-atomic particles at the speed of light and create a condition which existed for a fraction of a second after the “Big Bang” which created the whole Universe 13.7 billion years ago. The collider is the most powerful tool hoping to uncover the secrets behind the laws of the universe, both on the tiny scale of quantum mechanics and the huge domain of galaxies and black holes.

Scientists have been indulged in this experiment since 14 years and the cost is around 2.6 billion Swiss Francs. This experiment started successfully on September 10, 2008 without doing any harm and is expected to shed light on mass, matter, basic foundation of life and other untold mysteries of Universe. More than 100 scientists from India are a part of this experiment. India has also exported important Software and Hardware used in conducting this experiment.

According to critics, this experiment is very dangerous for mankind and would create a Black Hole which would swallow the whole Earth inside-out. But leading scientists declared the experiments to be completely safe and secure.

After two weeks of experimentation, a major helium leak was found into the tunnel housing the colossal machine. In order to fix the collider the section of the tunnel will have to be warmed up and later cooled down again, which would take around two months. The laboratory closes down in the winter, so the experiment would resume after spring of 2009.

Since the machine will be shut down for repairs, so the researchers, who have been waiting 14 years for the world’s largest particle collider, will have to see any results in the Big Bang experiment for few months.

When this is complete, scientists will be provided with data to answer important questions about the nature of the universe. And one of the answers they are keen to know is: Does the Higgs boson exist?

The Higgs boson is a particle responsible for the transition between energy and matter. It has even been christened with a divine nickname – the God particle. If the experiments at the LHC prove to be a successful one, then it would be the first experiment ever and scientists would find possible answers that how the energy from the Big Bang formed matter, and us.

We human beings are trying our level best to explore the secrets of the Universe, but can we succeed in unfolding its secrets, this is a big question which needs to be answered.

* Author is a Social Activist and can be reached at madhurivasnani@rediffmail.com