CERN Unveils Blueprint for Future Circular Collider

In April 2025, CERN released detailed plans for the Future Circular Collider (FCC), a proposed 91-kilometer particle accelerator aimed at revolutionizing physics research. The collider, set to be built along the French-Swiss border, would succeed the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

Key Points

Two-Phase Plan:
- Mid-2040s: High-precision experiments to study known physics in greater detail.
- 2070 Onward: High-energy collisions of protons and heavy ions to explore unknown physics.
Greater Energy Levels: The FCC aims to generate collisions with 10 times more energy than the LHC, enabling the discovery of heavier particles.
Scientific Goals: Researchers hope to deepen understanding of the Higgs boson and fundamental forces shaping the universe.
Project Cost & Approval: Estimated at 14 billion Swiss Francs (~$16 billion), the project awaits review by independent experts before a final decision by CERN’s member states in 2028.
Technological Innovation: The FCC could drive advancements in cryogenics, superconducting magnets, and vacuum technologies.
Engineering Challenges: The proposed tunnel would have a 91-km circumference, a 5-meter diameter, and an average depth of 200 meters.