UNRAVELLING the ancient mysteries of life and the universe, is a subject which has plagued boffins for millennia.

But this week a science experiment begins which could begin to provide answers to some of the questions which have vexed the scientists for years.

It involves a giant device known as the Large Hadron Collider – developed at CERN, the world’s largest laboratory.

Sunk 100m underground in a 27km loop which straddles the French and Swiss borders the particle accelerator will shoot tiny particles, known as protons, around. The plan is to accelerate these protons close to the speed of light, 186,000 miles per second.

At this rate the protons shoot round the ring 11,000 times a second.

The plan is to smash them together to mimic the Big Bang – the beginning of the universe – and then use sophisticated cameras to ‘photograph’ the results.

By doing this researchers could begin to understand exactly what happened when the universe, which today is a grand old 13.7bn years old, was less than a billionth of a second old.

And with that information the scientists can start to pin together exactly how the universe works.

Plans for this magic machine were hatched years ago but tomorrow it will finally be switched on.

And it has only got to this stage thanks to the Swindon-based Science and Technology Facilities Council, which is involved in the project as the body which oversees science and science spending for particle physics in the UK.

Dr Janet Seed, formerly a bio-chemist, is the head of particle and nuclear physics at the North Star-based STFC.

“This work is very exciting as it will address the fundamental questions about the nature of mass itself and the birth of the universe,” she said.

“In science there is nothing more fundamental than that.

“After all it is how we all came to exist.

“This is an amazing project. Not only is the physical civil engineering side amazing but the technology involved is very hi-tech and much of it is specially developed for this.

“No-one can predict what the LHC will find but being involved in the biggest experiment the world has ever seen makes this an amazingly exciting time.”

“Here in Swindon we are responsible for purchasing and setting scientific budgets,” said Dr Seed.

“Which makes the STFC and Swindon very important.

“And our involvement in this means that the atmosphere here in Swindon is buzzing.

“We have all been working on the project for so long that for us here in Swindon it has been like waiting for Christmas.

“Now Christmas is here. Tomorrow there will be big screens up in the office so they can watch live footage from the control centre.

“There will be excitement here in Swindon.”

Despite the STFC’s involvement in the project Swindon’s links to the world’s biggest experiment have so far gone largely unnoticed.

“I think Swindon should be very proud of its involvement in this as it is a fantastic achievement,” said Dr Seed.

“Once the physics work begins it will improve our understanding of the Universe.

“I suspect people in Swindon don’t have a huge understanding of what we do and to be honest it’s unlikely the Swindon connection to CERN is well known.

“But we at the STFC will continue to be heavily involved in the programme over the next 10 or 15 years.”