Monday 30 Jun 2008 @ 10:34
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Science and Technology Facilities Council
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Big Bang at the Royal Society
This summer, the world’s biggest physics experiment – the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) - will recreate conditions that existed billionths of a second after time began and possibly uncover some of the deepest mysteries of the origins and workings of our universe.
The LHC – the world’s most powerful man-made particle accelerator – will also be making a ‘big bang’ at this year’s Royal Society Summer exhibition, as an interactive exhibit run by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Visitors will see parts of the LHC’s particle detectors and learn why the biggest machines in the world are needed to track the smallest particles of matter. Researchers will be on hand to discuss why particle smashing experiments at the LHC are important and exciting.
Professor Keith Mason, Chief Executive of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), who fund the UK involvement in the experiment said, “This is one of those exciting milestones in science which could change our thinking about the way the world works. Our understanding of physics and the universe may be catapulted forward or even vastly changed by the results recorded in this huge and complex experiment. It’s great that we can bring a flavour of it to the Royal Society Summer Exhibition.”
The LHC is an international project in which the UK has a leading role. It will smash protons together in an underground tunnel, 27km long, and record the results in detectors the size of cathedrals. As well as creating conditions that existed billionths of a second after the Big Bang, results may also shed light on the mysteries surrounding antimatter and dark matter and will allow us to investigate the existence of extra space-time dimensions. It may also find the Higgs boson – an undetected particle theorized to give other particles mass.
Other exhibits with STFC involvement include:
Can you hear black holes collide?
A showcase of the exciting science associated with Einstein’s general theory of relativity, black holes and gravitational waves. Visitors to the exhibition will gain an understanding of how space and time are flexible, find out more about black holes and see a demonstration of the technology used to search for gravitational waves. The display is a collaboration between researchers from the University of Southampton, Birmingham University, Cardiff University, Glasgow University, designers from Milde Science Communication and the Albert Einstein Institute in Potsdam, Germany. These researchers are part of the GEO 600 and Advanced LIGO projects which expect to detect gravitational waves for the first time ever in the near future.
Exploring the Solar System: Mankind or Machine?
This exciting display will give visitors the chance to see the ExoMars rover prototype in action and see (via a plasma screen) through the ‘eyes’ of the rover. There are also hands on exhibits showing how we can see planetary surfaces with different light wavelengths; a video console with information on rovers, manned missions and aerobots; a model of the BepiColombo space mission and an online survey to record the public's opinion about the future of space policy.
Dr John Bridges, of the Space Research Centre, University of Leicester, is organising the exhibit which also includes the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Aberystwyth University, the National Space Centre and Astrium Ltd.
Is there anybody out there? Looking for new worlds.
A team of planet hunters, looking for new worlds similar to Earth, will be showing live transmissions from telescopes around the world as they search for Earth like planets orbiting a star. The three methods used to find exoplanets (planets beyond our solar system) will be demonstrated using games and interactive displays, with visitors being given the chance to win packs of exoplanet “top trumps”. There will also be a telescope, SuperWASP South, operated remotely from the exhibition, and the team of planet-hunters will be on-hand to answer questions.
The planet hunting team is from the Open University, University of St Andrews, Keele University, the University of Hertfordshire, the University of Manchester, Queen’s University Belfast and the Faulkes Telescope Project.
From hard-disk to healthcare: What can spintronics do for you?
An exciting display about Spintronics - a new field of research based on a property of electrons known as their spin or magnetic moment. Spintronics began with the discovery of Giant Magneto Resistance which has made today’s computer data storage capabilities possible.
The display is from the University of Leeds; Durham University; University of Cambridge; University of Exeter; University of Glasgow; City University London; Imperial College London; University of Warwick; ISIS, Science and Technology Facilities Council
Notes for editors
1. Press preview of this exhibit and others on show: 15.00 - 17.00 Monday 30 June - please register your interest with the Royal Society press office.
2. General info: The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition showcases cutting edge research in science and engineering from across the UK. It is held annually at the Royal Society, the UK's national academy of science.
The Exhibition runs from Monday 30 to Thursday 3 July 2008
The event is FREE and open to the public.
This year, 23 interactive exhibits will be on show presenting the best of UK science, engineering and technology. During the four days of the event, more than 4,000 people are expected to take up the opportunity to explore the exhibition.
The Royal Society can be found at 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG. Nearest tubes are Piccadilly Circus or Charing Cross.
3. Exhibition opening times:
Monday 30 June 18.00 - 21.00 (late opening)
Tuesday 1 July 10.00 - 21.00 (late opening)
Wednesday 2 July 10.00 - 16.30
Thursday 3 July 10.00 - 16.30
Last entry 30 minutes before closing
ttp://www.summerscience.org.uk/
For more information on the Large Hadron Collider http://www.lhc.ac.uk/
For images of the Large Hadron Collider, please contact the STFC Press Office
Science and Technology Facilities Council
The Science and Technology Facilities Council ensures the UK retains its leading place on the world stage by delivering world-class science; accessing and hosting international facilities; developing innovative technologies; and increasing the socio-economic impact of its research through effective knowledge exchange partnerships.
The Council has a broad science portfolio including Astronomy, Particle Physics, Particle Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics, Space Science, Synchrotron Radiation, Neutron Sources and High Power Lasers. In addition the Council manages and operates three internationally renowned laboratories:
• The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire
• The Daresbury Laboratory, Cheshire
• The UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh
The Council gives researchers access to world-class facilities and funds the UK membership of international bodies such as the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), the Institute Laue Langevin (ILL), European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), the European organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) and the European Space Agency (ESA). It also contributes money for the UK telescopes overseas on La Palma, Hawaii, Australia and in Chile, and the MERLIN/VLBI National Facility, which includes the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory.
The Council distributes public money from the Government to support scientific research. Between 2007 and 2008 we will invest approximately £678 million.
The Council is a partner in the UK space programme, coordinated by the British National Space Centre.
The LHC – the world’s most powerful man-made particle accelerator – will also be making a ‘big bang’ at this year’s Royal Society Summer exhibition, as an interactive exhibit run by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Visitors will see parts of the LHC’s particle detectors and learn why the biggest machines in the world are needed to track the smallest particles of matter. Researchers will be on hand to discuss why particle smashing experiments at the LHC are important and exciting.
Professor Keith Mason, Chief Executive of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), who fund the UK involvement in the experiment said, “This is one of those exciting milestones in science which could change our thinking about the way the world works. Our understanding of physics and the universe may be catapulted forward or even vastly changed by the results recorded in this huge and complex experiment. It’s great that we can bring a flavour of it to the Royal Society Summer Exhibition.”
The LHC is an international project in which the UK has a leading role. It will smash protons together in an underground tunnel, 27km long, and record the results in detectors the size of cathedrals. As well as creating conditions that existed billionths of a second after the Big Bang, results may also shed light on the mysteries surrounding antimatter and dark matter and will allow us to investigate the existence of extra space-time dimensions. It may also find the Higgs boson – an undetected particle theorized to give other particles mass.
Other exhibits with STFC involvement include:
Can you hear black holes collide?
A showcase of the exciting science associated with Einstein’s general theory of relativity, black holes and gravitational waves. Visitors to the exhibition will gain an understanding of how space and time are flexible, find out more about black holes and see a demonstration of the technology used to search for gravitational waves. The display is a collaboration between researchers from the University of Southampton, Birmingham University, Cardiff University, Glasgow University, designers from Milde Science Communication and the Albert Einstein Institute in Potsdam, Germany. These researchers are part of the GEO 600 and Advanced LIGO projects which expect to detect gravitational waves for the first time ever in the near future.
Exploring the Solar System: Mankind or Machine?
This exciting display will give visitors the chance to see the ExoMars rover prototype in action and see (via a plasma screen) through the ‘eyes’ of the rover. There are also hands on exhibits showing how we can see planetary surfaces with different light wavelengths; a video console with information on rovers, manned missions and aerobots; a model of the BepiColombo space mission and an online survey to record the public's opinion about the future of space policy.
Dr John Bridges, of the Space Research Centre, University of Leicester, is organising the exhibit which also includes the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Aberystwyth University, the National Space Centre and Astrium Ltd.
Is there anybody out there? Looking for new worlds.
A team of planet hunters, looking for new worlds similar to Earth, will be showing live transmissions from telescopes around the world as they search for Earth like planets orbiting a star. The three methods used to find exoplanets (planets beyond our solar system) will be demonstrated using games and interactive displays, with visitors being given the chance to win packs of exoplanet “top trumps”. There will also be a telescope, SuperWASP South, operated remotely from the exhibition, and the team of planet-hunters will be on-hand to answer questions.
The planet hunting team is from the Open University, University of St Andrews, Keele University, the University of Hertfordshire, the University of Manchester, Queen’s University Belfast and the Faulkes Telescope Project.
From hard-disk to healthcare: What can spintronics do for you?
An exciting display about Spintronics - a new field of research based on a property of electrons known as their spin or magnetic moment. Spintronics began with the discovery of Giant Magneto Resistance which has made today’s computer data storage capabilities possible.
The display is from the University of Leeds; Durham University; University of Cambridge; University of Exeter; University of Glasgow; City University London; Imperial College London; University of Warwick; ISIS, Science and Technology Facilities Council
Notes for editors
1. Press preview of this exhibit and others on show: 15.00 - 17.00 Monday 30 June - please register your interest with the Royal Society press office.
2. General info: The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition showcases cutting edge research in science and engineering from across the UK. It is held annually at the Royal Society, the UK's national academy of science.
The Exhibition runs from Monday 30 to Thursday 3 July 2008
The event is FREE and open to the public.
This year, 23 interactive exhibits will be on show presenting the best of UK science, engineering and technology. During the four days of the event, more than 4,000 people are expected to take up the opportunity to explore the exhibition.
The Royal Society can be found at 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG. Nearest tubes are Piccadilly Circus or Charing Cross.
3. Exhibition opening times:
Monday 30 June 18.00 - 21.00 (late opening)
Tuesday 1 July 10.00 - 21.00 (late opening)
Wednesday 2 July 10.00 - 16.30
Thursday 3 July 10.00 - 16.30
Last entry 30 minutes before closing
ttp://www.summerscience.org.uk/
For more information on the Large Hadron Collider http://www.lhc.ac.uk/
For images of the Large Hadron Collider, please contact the STFC Press Office
Science and Technology Facilities Council
The Science and Technology Facilities Council ensures the UK retains its leading place on the world stage by delivering world-class science; accessing and hosting international facilities; developing innovative technologies; and increasing the socio-economic impact of its research through effective knowledge exchange partnerships.
The Council has a broad science portfolio including Astronomy, Particle Physics, Particle Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics, Space Science, Synchrotron Radiation, Neutron Sources and High Power Lasers. In addition the Council manages and operates three internationally renowned laboratories:
• The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire
• The Daresbury Laboratory, Cheshire
• The UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh
The Council gives researchers access to world-class facilities and funds the UK membership of international bodies such as the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), the Institute Laue Langevin (ILL), European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), the European organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) and the European Space Agency (ESA). It also contributes money for the UK telescopes overseas on La Palma, Hawaii, Australia and in Chile, and the MERLIN/VLBI National Facility, which includes the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory.
The Council distributes public money from the Government to support scientific research. Between 2007 and 2008 we will invest approximately £678 million.
The Council is a partner in the UK space programme, coordinated by the British National Space Centre.
