Top 5 Facts: Atoms

Open the atom

Parts of atoms are smashed together to break them up into smaller particles, which allows scientists to discover what the particles are actually made of.

Collision

Subatomic particles, such as nuclei and electrons, are smashed together at almost the speed of light inside a giant collider to break them apart.

Quark

Protons and neutrons are broken into quarks, which are one of the fundamental particles of nature. Quarks cannot be broken down into smaller pieces.

CERN

The European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, is the world’s largest particle physics laboratory. It carries out many high-energy physics experiments.

Large Hadron Collider

The LHC is the world’s biggest and most powerful particle accelerator. It is a 17 mile ring of superconducting magnets which are used to smash particles together.