What does a particle accelerator do and what can we learn from using one?
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The short answer is particle accelerators make small, subatomic particles go REALLY REALLY FAST, then they smash them into each other. When I say really fast, I mean like unbelievably fast. The LHC, takes a proton and gets it moving 99.9999991% of the speed of light. Then it takes another proton, and gets that one going 99.99999991% of the speed of light in the opposite direction of the first. Then both of the protons are smashed into each other and the results recorded.
The reason for this is to create small, localized areas of TREMENDOUS energy. We are recreating the energy levels that existed in the few moments following the big bang. This area of study is called high energy physics, and by getting a better idea of how those energies work we can gain a better understanding of the underlying rules of the universe. Think of it as getting a quick peak under the hood of the universe.
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