Perfect precision

Although it's huge and complex, the LHC is a very sensitive machine. If the energy of the beam changes by just a tiny amount, it can ruin measurements.

Physicists even have to adjust their results depending on the phase of the Moon because it can slightly alter the shape of the Earth and the size of the accelerator. This can change the circumference of the ring by up to 1 millimetre - altering the distance the beam has to travel and causing variations in its energy.