4: Turning lead into primordial soup

How can the Large Hadron Collider turn lead into primordial soup and why? Join us as we dive into the world of heavy ion collisions at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC). In this episode, we connect with an expert from the LHC’s Beam Operations team and a researcher from the ALICE experiment to uncover the science behind colliding lead ions instead of protons. What does it take to vapourize lead, strip off its electrons, and accelerate it to near-light speeds for these extraordinary collisions? And why are these collisions important? We’ll explore the challenges of lead ion collisions, how they differ from proton collisions, and the unique role of the ALICE experiment in studying their results. From measurements to discoveries, we’ll unpack the insights gained from these experiments while offering a glimpse into the future of research at the LHC. Tune in to explore the fascinating intersection of physics, experimentation, and cutting-edge discovery.