WHY IT MATTERS

The Large Hadron Collider is shutting down for four years to triple its collision power, accelerating the search for dark matter—the invisible glue holding galaxies together. Scientists aim to crack one of physics' greatest mysteries by 2026.
KEY TAKEAWAY

The LHC will increase collision rates from 1 billion to 3 billion per second
KEY TAKEAWAY

New superconducting magnets can handle 12,000 amps—enough to melt 20 cars
KEY TAKEAWAY

First test collisions expected by late 2025
KEY TAKEAWAY

Dark matter detection could explain missing mass in galaxy rotation
KEY FACT

The upgrade will accumulate 10 times more data than all previous LHC runs combined by 2036.
SCIENCELOOP

World's Largest Particle Smasher Halts for Major Upgrade to Hunt Dark Matter

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