Civil engineering has begun for the new AWAKE experiment, which looks to push the boundaries of particle acceleration. This proof-of-principle experiment will harness the power of wakefields generated by proton beams in plasma cells, producing accelerator gradients hundreds of times higher than those used in current RF cavities. >>

It’s almost the end of August, and many of us are returning to CERN after a well-earned rest. >>

With only one short month left until beam, the SPS teams have been kept busy with powering and operations tests. Alongside this demanding work, they have also successfully removed and replaced four key elements of the accelerator. >>

The various parts of the ATLAS detector were designed to be moveable, just like in a toy construction set, allowing access to the sub-detectors inside. However, unlike toy bricks, the components of this giant of physics weigh up to 1000 tonnes and need to be repositioned with a precision of as high as 300 microns. >>

What better way to learn than to try yourself? That’s the idea of S'Cool LAB, a new teaching laboratory: it offers school-children visiting CERN the chance to take part in a half-day practical workshop in a purpose-equipped lab. >>

Following the installation of the Linac4 Drift Tube Linac (DTL) earlier this summer (see here), the first DTL tank saw beams at 12 MeV on 5 August. >>

On Friday 26 September 2014, CERN will be celebrating European Researchers' Night at three venues in Geneva and St. Genis-Pouilly. Inspired by Andy Warhol, this year's theme is “Pop science is for everyone”. >>

A CERN manager, supported by two outside companies, manages the three entities in the GS Department that are in charge of various aspects of security. In total, about 80 people, 300 cameras, a surveillance centre (CSA) and 22 kilometres of fences are responsible for ensuring that the Organization is secure. But in spite of these significant resources, the best strategy for maintaining a good level of security at CERN is the active support of its users. >>

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the time depicted in the novel 1984, written by the visionary George Orwell in 1947/8, as well as the 25th anniversary of the World Wide Web being invented at CERN. To mark this occasion, both the Cineglobe Film Festival at CERN and the Latitude Festival in the UK are holding panel discussions on the technological and socio-cultural implications of our infinite connectedness in an age of internet surveillance: “How close is our world to that of Orwell's nightmare?” >>