The Tevatron particle accelerator, one of the world's most powerful atom smashers, is being shut down after 25 years. Located in Chicago, this facility holds a significant importance in the history of subatomic physics. In this past quarter century, the Tevatron made several important discoveries, including the top quark, the heaviest of the most basic particles (that we know of) making up the universe. In addition to these discoveries, it was also close to the discovery of a particle that would have explained the origins of mass itself. However, since the US Department of Energy was not able to fund the extra 35 million dollars, the Tevatron was slated for shut down and fired its last particles this afternoon. Its parts will most likely be used in other facilities.
This closing, along with its space program closures, ends the era of "big science" in the US. I am not necessarily for or against this, because the discoveries will still be made, but by other programs. With that being said, I think that scientific research should be a collaborative effort, not competition. If scientific research was collaborative, then the Tevatron particle accelerator might not have shut down.
Full article at: BBC
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