For the people responsible for the construction of the LHC, the suspense is palpable. On Wednesday, for the first time ever, a proton beam will be circulated through the 26.7 kilometer long tunnel. The first proton-proton collisions are planned for the end of the year. After 12 years of construction and costs nearing six billion francs, scientists are expecting to learn fundamental knowledge about the beginnings of the universe. The official dedication ceremony for the LHC will take place in the presence of invited dignitaries on October 21^st.

Those interested in tomorrow’s event can follow it live. Large viewing screens will be placed in HG D16.2 und HCI J33, where from noon until 12:25 pm the press conference taking place at CERN will be broadcast. From 12:25 pm to 1:15 pm, the “first beam” will mark the start of the experiment. Representatives from ETH Zurich, among others, will offer commentary on the proceedings. The activities can be live-streamed over the computer using Quicktime Player or VLC. CERN is also making a stream available.