CERN Accelerating science

     
 

CERN
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The Machine within the Machine

Although Virtual Machines are widespread across CERN, you probably won't have heard of them unless you work for an experiment. Virtual machines - known as VMs - allow you to create a separate machine within your own, allowing you to run Linux on your Mac, or Windows on your Linux - whatever combination you need. >>

Education, education, education

Education is a recurring theme of our 60th anniversary year, as I was reminded last week when we had a visit from the winners of the Spanish schools competition launched with the Prince of Asturias Award prize money (see here). >>

LS1 Report: short-circuit tests

As the LS1 draws to an end, teams move from installation projects to a phase of intense testing. Among these are the so-called 'short-circuit tests'. Currently under way at Point 7, these tests verify the cables, the interlocks, the energy extraction systems, the power converters that provide current to the superconducting magnets and the cooling system. >>

Physics at 13 TeV: ATLAS - extracting the most from new LHC data

The unprecedented collision energy of LHC run 2 will bring physicists a step further into an as-yet unexplored world, where new particles should eventually leave their signature in the powerful detectors. This may well happen in the form of “missing transverse momentum” – that is, energy that is not detected directly but can be deduced by measuring the imbalance of the observed particles. Often called “missing energy” for simplicity, scientists predict (see here) that it could be the signature of many new physics processes. >>

Physics at 13 TeV: CMS - scanning the unknown

CMS is getting ready to use its accurate detector to scan the many ripples of the unknown physics that may lie beyond the Standard Model. Foremost in everyone’s mind is the search for signs of the production of dark matter at a man-made machine. >>

High-temperature superconductors make major progress

This month's Nature Materials featured an important breakthrough for high-temperature superconductors. A new method has been found for processing Bi-2212 high-temperature superconducting round wire in order to drastically increase its critical current density. The result confirms that this conductor is a serious candidate for future very-high-field magnets. >>

CERN is celebrating its anniversary - invite your neighbours!

On 24 and 25 May 2014, CERN will be organising a weekend of discovery to celebrate its 60th anniversary with its (our) neighbours. Come and help us to welcome them as a volunteer! >>

ATLAS welcomes a new Palestinian student

Mahmoud Ibrahim Alstaty, from near Jenin, is starting a PhD studentship at CERN, where he will be working on the new inner layer of the ATLAS pixel detector. He joins a growing number of other Palestinian researchers who are working at CERN. >>

EDMS 6: modern and intuitive

As announced in Bulletin No. 14-15/2014 (see here), a new version of the system used to manage technical data and data concerning CERN equipment (EDMS, Engineering and Equipment Data Management Service) is now available. >>

CERNland/Prince of Asturias competition winners tour CERN

Last week, the Laboratory rolled out the red carpet for the six young winners of the CERNland/Prince of Asturias competition. From a visit of the CMS detector to dessert with the Director-General, these young talents were given the full VIP treatment. Nothing less would do for our winners! >>

The first CERN Spring Campus

From 14 to 16 April, the first edition of the CERN Spring Campus took place in Spain. Taking place over three intensive days, this event brought experts from CERN together at the University of Oviedo, where they met the engineers and scientists of the future in a programme of scientific and technological dissemination and cultural exchange. >>

Behind the scenes of GS: precious stones

Since the laying of the foundation stone for the Synchrocyclotron in June 1954, CERN has been expanding constantly to reach a current constructed surface area of 580,000 m2 covered by some 650 buildings (just 125 of which account for 70% of this area). >>

Computer Security: “Heartbleed” - a disaster for privacy

"On a scale of 1 to 10, this is an 11,” claimed the famous security expert Bruce Schneier (see here). Indeed, the serious vulnerability dubbed “Heartbleed” affects everyone who relies on secure and private Internet communication. You cannot avoid it, so let’s see how it affects you. >>

Ombuds' Corner: letter from Ombudsland

Early this month, over 400 Ombuds met in Denver for their annual conference and networking event. It was an excellent opportunity to meet colleagues from all over the world and to share best practices and benefit from an ongoing exchange of professional experience. >>

The new Globe car park: for visitors and the CERN community

With twice as many parking spaces as the existing car park by the flagpoles and the same conditions of use (see here), the new Globe car park will be open for use from Monday 5 May. >>

Official News

Tax declaration: for the attention of members of the personnel and pensioners living in France  
Taxation in France: Memorandum concerning the annual internal taxation certificate and the declaration of income for 2013  

Training and Development

Safety training: places available in May  
Technical training: places available  
Language courses  

Announcements

The new Globe car park: for visitors and the CERN community  
Safety objectives for 2014  
Voice over IP phone calls from your smartphone  
Prévessin site – Pedestrian and cycle entrances  

Events

Université de Genève | Particle Physics Colloquium | 7 May  
Academic Training Lecture | Game Theory | 8 - 9 May  
Université de Genève | Particle Physics Colloquium | 14 May  
Université de Genève | Particle Physics Colloquium | 21 May  
Université de Genève | Particle Physics Colloquium | 30 April  

Staff Association

Council decisions on personnel policy and social responsibility: a harmony to be restored  
Annual General Meeting  
Exhibition  
Cern women's club  
Dancing club  
CineClub  
Interfon