JAN 30, 2018 6:00 AM PST

The Coldest Place On Earth

WRITTEN BY: Daniel Duan

No, I am not talking about the North or South Pole (or Winnipeg if you are from Canada). For those guess the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the France-Switzerland border, you are correct. 

The world's largest and most powerful particle collider requires superconducting electromagnets to guide and accelerate charged particles. These magnets would only work in an extremely cold condition, specifically at -456.34 F or 1.9 K—a temperature colder than outer space. Otherwise, heat would build up, and the super conductivity of electricity would be compromised.

Therefore for cooing purpose, the electromagnets, as well as many other parts of the LHC, rely on a vast network that distributes 120 tonnes of liquid helium, the same gas that is used to cool nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners.

Source: CERN via Youtube

About the Author
Master's (MA/MS/Other)
Graduated with a bachelor degree in Pharmaceutical Science and a master degree in neuropharmacology, Daniel is a radiopharmaceutical and radiobiology expert based in Ottawa, Canada. With years of experience in biomedical R&D, Daniel is very into writing. He is constantly fascinated by what's happening in the world of science. He hopes to capture the public's interest and promote scientific literacy with his trending news articles. The recurring topics in his Chemistry & Physics trending news section include alternative energy, material science, theoretical physics, medical imaging, and green chemistry.
You May Also Like
Loading Comments...