The A Large Ion Collider Experiment (ALICE), ATLAS, Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS), and Large Hadron Collider beauty (LHCb) collaborations at CERN’s LHC have been awarded the prestigious Breakthrough Prize in fundamental physics.
Celebrating extraordinary achievements
Professor Sinead Farrington, Director of Particle Physics at Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), said:
The Breakthrough Prize celebrates extraordinary achievements of the LHC collaborations and highlights the essential contributions of UK scientists in advancing global physics research.
The LHC experiments allow our current understanding of fundamental interactions to be tested in unprecedented detail, leading to the discovery of the Standard Model’s Higgs boson and exploration of this new sector.
The question continues as we search for hints of what may lie beyond the Standard Model through precision measurements and direct searches.
The UK takes immense pride in being part of this effort to deepen our understanding of the Universe.
Groundbreaking research
The accolade, presented at a ceremony in Los Angeles on 5 April 2025, recognises their groundbreaking research into:
- Higgs boson properties
- matter-antimatter asymmetry
- new particles
- the fundamental forces shaping our universe
Professor Tara Shears, Team Leader of the Liverpool LHCb group, and LHCb-UK Principle Investigator, said:
UK scientists and engineers have played major roles in building the LHC experiments and producing science results, and this research journey doesn’t stop today.
We’re prototyping and building state of the art upgrades to our experiments to extract as much science as we can throughout the whole lifetime of LHC.
Pioneering discoveries
Representing thousands of researchers across more than 70 countries, these collaborations have made pioneering discoveries that push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe.
Their achievements are based on data collected during the LHC’s Run-2, culminating in years of collaborations and scientific excellence.
UK at the forefront of discovery
The UK continues to play a pivotal role in the success of the LHC collaborations, with more than 20 UK universities and research institutions actively contributing to its experiments.
The UK’s annual £144 million subscription to CERN, managed by STFC, supports its vital role in advancing global scientific discovery.
UK researchers are involved in all four major LHC experiments, ATLAS, CMS, LHCb and ALICE, using cutting-edge technology and innovation to address fundamental questions about the universe.
From analysing data to advancing particle physics technologies, the UK’s contributions are integral to the LHC’s achievements.
Reflecting on the role of UK researchers
Professor Tara Shears added:
This prize is a wonderful recognition that amazing science follows when you harness the incredible teamwork and creativity of the LHC collaborations.
It also reflects the role of UK researchers, who have driven advances in particle physics that continue to transform our understanding of the Universe.
