LHCb is rewriting our understanding of the Universe 🌌
For decades, we’ve known about particles containing two or three quarks (like protons). But in 2015 LHCb discovered something remarkable; a new class of particles made up of five quarks called pentaquarks!💡
With additional data, LHCb has since discovered 5 more pentaquark states, helping us decode the “strong force” which glues together quarks to form the protons and neutrons in every atom in the Universe.
The most exciting part? We’ve only seen 10% of the picture. Imagine what we might discover in the 90% of our data we haven’t even collected yet. 🔎
⚠️ But this story is at risk of ending here.
@weareukri has pulled funding for the upcoming LHCb detector upgrade, which would otherwise enable us to collect an additional 8x our current dataset by 2041.
📢 Don’t let this be the last chapter.
Share this post, spread the word about why LHCb matters and help us #saveLHCb!
#CERN #UKScience #ParticlePhysics @scitechgovuk@bigscience_stfc@weareukri
LHCb: Multitasking at the world’s highest energy particle collider⚡
At LHCb we don’t just collide protons, our System for Measuring Overlap with Gas (SMOG) enables us to run the world’s highest energy fixed-target experiment too🏆
By injecting different gases into the accelerator beam-pipe, we can study proton collisions with gas molecules (our “fixed targets”). And thanks to our SMOG2 system, installed at the last LHCb upgrade, we can now run proton-proton collisions AT THE SAME TIME as proton-gas collisions! 🤯
The results so far? 15 different types of particle-particle collisions studied since our last upgrade, unlocking mysteries of our universe from cosmic antimatter production to nuclear structure 🌌⚛️
⚠️ But this work is under threat. Significant cuts to LHCb funding by @weareukri put the future of this unique experiment at risk.
📢 Stand with us to help #saveLHCb. Share this post and spread the word about why LHCb matters!
#CERN #UKScience #ParticlePhysics #saveSTFC @scitechgovuk@bigscience_stfc@weareukri
Over 4,000,000 gigabytes of LHCb data is open access to EVERYONE! 🔓
🌌 At LHCb we don’t just study the fundamental laws of our universe; we ensure our research is accessible to all. Through our commitment to Open Science, all our results are free to access and we make our data publicly available too (for free), allowing research to be conducted by anyone in the world! 🌍
We even provide tools such as the “LHCb Ntupling service” to make this data easier to use for education and research, highlighting our commitment to a world where science belongs to everyone ✨
⚠️ BUT THIS IS ALL AT RISK. Funding cuts by @weareukri threaten the future of our experiment.
📢 Stand with us to help #saveLHCb. Share this post to your story and spread the word about why LHCb matters!
#CERN #UKScience #ParticlePhysics #saveSTFC @scitechgovuk@bigscience_stfc@weareukri
The UK has long played a leading role in the LHCb experiment at CERN, studying the fundamental laws of physics.
Now, UKRI is cutting its funding, threatening the future of LHCb and ultimately the UK’s international standing in science.
Learn more and take action now! ➡️
@lhcbexperiment
#saveLHCb #UKScience #saveSTFC @weareukri@scitechgovuk@bigscience_stfc
808 papers published and we’ve only scratched the surface 🌌✨
This week our #saveLHCb series is spotlighting the LHCb Collaboration’s remarkable contributions to physics. To date, we have published 808 peer-reviewed papers, whilst using only 10% of our projected dataset!
🌌 But these aren’t just numbers, they represent some of the most stringent tests ever conducted to understand the fundamental laws of our universe.
🏆 Recently our work was also recognised with the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics. We’ve proven the value of this science, now we need to protect its future.
📢 Stand with us and help save this ground-breaking research. Share this post to your story and spread the word about why LHCb matters!
#CERN #UKScience #ParticlePhysics #saveSTFC @scitechgovuk@bigscience_stfc@weareukri
Since March 30, the LHC has been running in a special configuration with lower collision rates for @atlasexperiment and @cmsexperiment , leading to longer stable beam periods (“fills”) lasting up to 50 hours.
While LHCb continues at its normal rate, it’s taking full advantage of these extended fills. During the longest fill, LHCb collecting a record 366 pb⁻¹ in a single fill, more than the entire 2015 dataset.💥
And with this special run configuration continuing, even more records are on the horizon 📊🚀
#cern #particlephysics #largehadroncollider #physics #stem
🎓800+ future leaders trained every year🎓
We’re back with our #saveLHCb series, and today we are highlighting the incredible training and knowledge transfer that goes on behind the scenes at LHCb. From expertise in AI and data science to novel technological solutions, the skills learned here drive innovation far beyond the lab.
But this pipeline of talent is under threat. With the UK’s funding for the upcoming LHCb detector upgrade currently withdrawn, the future of these opportunities is on the line 🛑
📢 Help us protect our next generation of scientists and innovators. Share this post and tag @weareukri to make your voice heard!
#CERN #UKScience #ParticlePhysics #saveSTFC @scitechgovuk@bigscience_stfc
Who says particle physics cannot be cosy?
Even the most complex science, like the research we do at the LHCb experiment, can be explained in a way that is easy to understand.
Today, the LHCb Panda is stepping into the spotlight to explain the latest discovery: the Xicc particle!
Think of it as a heavier, 'doubly charmed' cousin of the proton.
Science is for everyone, especially when a panda is involved.
See the breakthrough explained simply!
Idea and design: Pandzioszek @gusio_pandzioszek
Animation: Pliushia @pliushatravel
Music: Upbeat Fun Ukulele by REDproduction via Pixabay
#LHCb #CERN #ParticlePhysics #ScienceCommunication #LHCbPanda
What does it take to make the invisible visible? 🔬
In this interview, Federica Oliva (Project Associate at CERN, RICH Operation Coordinator and Deputy Run Coordinator for the 2026 data taking) walks us through LHCb’s recent observation of the Ξcc⁺ particle and how the upgrade of the LHCb detector made it possible.
As future upgrades face growing uncertainty due to funding cuts, what’s at stake goes beyond a single experiment. Supporting particle physics matters not only for fundamental research, but for its wider applications, including medical physics.
#LHCb #CERN #ParticlePhysics #Research #STEM
🌍 1,862 Scientists. 28 Countries. 1 Mission. 🌏
The LHCb experiment unites thousands of scientists across the globe on a quest to understand the fundamental building blocks of our universe. But this isn’t just about physics or human curiosity; it’s about science diplomacy.
Welcome back to our #saveLHCb series, showing you why the LHCb experiment at @CERN is vital. Today we are highlighting LHCb’s role in strengthening international relations through science.
By pulling funding for the LHCb detector upgrade, @weareukri isn’t just cutting a budget, they are breaking the trust of every international partner involved on this experiment and cutting the UK out of one of the world’s most successful international partnerships.
📢 Help us spread the word: Share this post to your story and tag @weareukri to show your support!
#CERN #UKScience #ParticlePhysics #saveSTFC @scitechgovuk@bigscience_stfc
A truck of Higgs bosons, originally shipped from @cmsexperiment to @atlasexperiment , re-gifted for the second time! 🎁
@lhcbexperiment has carefully inspected the shipment, realised we don’t need it for b-physics, and forwarded it to @alice_experiment
Now renamed Hibothc, the Higgs continues its epic LHC road trip.
April 1st, 2026, the day the Higgs successfully made its way across all main LHC experiments CMS → ATLAS → LHCb → ALICE. 😉
🎥 Today we caught up with Shuyu, part of the team behind the discovery of the Xicc+ particle.
What is the Xicc+ particle? Why is it such a big deal? And how do you even discover something that tiny? 🤯
She breaks it all down in a way that actually makes sense.
#particlephysics #womeninstem #cern #LHCb #sciencereels
