9. A Glimpse of the Early Universe
Recreating high-energy conditions. The extreme energies achieved by the LHC, close to those present in the first fraction of a second after the Big Bang, allow physicists to recreate conditions that existed in the nascent universe. By studying the particles and their interactions resulting from these high-energy collisions, scientists gain invaluable insights into the fundamental forces and matter states that shaped the early cosmos. This makes the LHC not only a tool for discovering new particles but also a unique window into the very early evolution of the universe, with the Higgs boson discovery being a prime example of physics informed by these cosmic recreations.