CERN is 25 years old

Reviews the history of CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, which has just celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary. The member states, the site (Geneva) and accelerators, and the research carried out are all discussed. Amongst the apparatus and research described are the SPS (Super Proton Synchrotron), the ISOLDE linear isotope separator, BEBC (Big European Bubble Chamber), and the ISR (Intersecting Storage Rings). Discoveries made since the founding of CERN include that of neutral currents, measurement of the magnetic characteristics of the muon to a great accuracy, creation of exotic atoms, neutrino analysis of proton and neutron structure, hadron classification, future/past time asymmetry in neutral kaons, and the first measurements of the lifetimes of charmed hadrons. Future projects considered include LEP, the Large Electron Positron Ring. (0 refs).