Geneva: Scientists at the world's largest atom smasher have released a blueprint for a much bigger successor that could help solve remaining enigmas of physics. The plans for the Future Circular Collider, a nearly 91-kilometer (56.5-mile) loop along the French-Swiss border and even below Lake Geneva, were published late on Monday, putting the finishing details on a project roughly a decade in the making at CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research.
According to Emirates News Agency, the study outlines features such as the proposed path, environmental impact, scientific ambitions, and cost of the project. Independent experts will review these plans before CERN's two-dozen member countries, all European except for Israel, make a decision in 2028 on whether to proceed. If approved, the construction would begin in the mid-2040s at a projected cost of approximately 14 billion Swiss francs (about $16 billion).
CERN officials have highlighted the potential for scientific discoveries that could drive innovations in areas such as cryogenics, superconducting magnets, and vacuum technologies, which could benefit humanity. External experts have also noted the potential for gaining deeper insights into the Higgs boson, the elusive particle that helped explain how matter formed after the Big Bang.