There are more than 100 of them in the LHC ring and they have a total of about 400 degrees of freedom. Each one has 4 motors and the newest ones have their own beam-monitoring pickups. Their jaws constrain the relativistic, high-energy particles to a very small transverse area and protect the machine aperture. We are speaking about the LHC collimators, those ultra-precise instruments that leave escaping unstable particles no chance. >>

With international women’s day coming up on 8 March, along with the recent appointment of a new Diversity Programme Leader, it seems timely to take a look at how far we’ve come over recent years in promoting gender equality at CERN. In short, the news is good, but we still have some way to travel. >>

With the pressure tests now complete (see here), we are coming to the equally important phase of cleaning the machine. With all the work performed over the past year, quite a lot of dust and dirt has accumulated in certain areas of the accelerator. >>

A Nobel laureate and a blackboard at CERN is all you need to explain the fundamental physics of the universe. At least, that's what François Englert convinced us of on his visit to CERN on 21 February 2014. Englert shared the 2013 Nobel prize in Physics with Peter Higgs "for the theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles". In the video below, he explains how he and Higgs manipulated equations containing mathematical constructs called scalar fields to predict the existence of the Brout-Englert-Higgs field. >>

Linac4's PI-Mode Structures (PIMS) are the first structures of their kind to accelerate protons. Now, over three years after work began on production, over 180 PIMS elements have been rough-machined and the first new PIMS cavity is being assembled at CERN. >>

How can an international research institution help employees who wish to leave their comfort zone for the risky endeavour of starting a company? CERN encourages the creation of companies as a way of disseminating technology developed here. But what else can be done to foster these initiatives? >>

On Thursday 27 February, CERN was pleased to donate computer equipment to a physics institute in the Philippines. >>

e-EPS News is a monthly addition to the CERN Bulletin line-up, showcasing articles from e-EPS – the European Physical Society newsletter – as part of a collaboration between the two publications. >>

The GS-ASE team in charge of access control has an access solution for every type of premises, from radiation-controlled areas to simple administrative offices. >>

Like any other organisation/employer, CERN holds confidential data, e.g. medical records, personnel files, files on harassment cases, NDAs & contracts, credit card information, and even unpublished scientific results. Unfortunately, our current methods of handling such documents are inadequate owing to a lack of clarity with regard to responsibilities and obligations. >>

With the annual MARS exercise approaching, now is an ideal time to consider how to carry out a successful interview. In this issue of the Bulletin, I promised to look at how you, as a supervisee, can use the time to share your specific experience and consolidate an on-going dialogue with your supervisor. >>