The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world's largest machine, and the highest-energy particle accelerator.   It works by colliding opposing particle beams of either protons or lead nuclei.  These experiments are expected  to address the most fundamental questions of physics, to increase our understanding of the deepest laws of nature, including the existence of the hypothesized Higgs boson particle, which is often referred to as "the God particle" in the media.