Re:CERN approves plans for a $23B, 62-mile long super-collider
by davrosthedalek on Tuesday June 23, 2020 @10:35AM
(#23614416)
CERN is very particular about what they go for. They are fully aware of their special status as a transnational research enterprise. They only seek out projects out of the reach of a single country.
They are doing that, are are doing upgrades to get more use of out of the LHC. The new planned collider is for about a generation from now.
If this goes ahead, it will be starting construction in nearly 20 years from now.
> If there is no new physics from the last experiment, why do we think that building a bigger microscope will be any different?
CERN has a specific remit. They're planning for that remit. If their funding sources do not think the odds justifies the expense, they'll cut funding, but it's not CERNs job to sit back and not come up with plans for what to do next. It's CERNs job to look at what they can do to enable further science within their remit.
They've come up with this as one option and decided to move forward with planning. That does not mean it will happen - if they don't get funding in place it won't, or will be delayed.
In the meantime the shorter term upgrades to the LHC may or may not end up supporting their case for the new collider depending on the results they get.