Beams of protons circulate in Big Bang machine after more than a year of repairs

Beams of protons circulate in Big Bang machine

GENEVA — A spokesman says scientists have circulated beams of protons in the world’s largest atom smasher for the first time after a year of repairs.

James Gillies of the European Organization for Nuclear Research says the return to action took some scientists by surprise Friday night and they had to be called back in.

Scientist had had always said it would be hard to predict when the first beams would circulate, and it went faster than expected.