Hadron collisions

Hadron collisions occur when particles like protons or neutrons—collectively called hadrons—are accelerated to high speeds and smashed together, typically in large particle accelerators. These energetic collisions briefly break the hadrons apart, revealing fundamental components called quarks and gluons. Studying these interactions helps scientists understand the universe’s basic building blocks and the forces that govern them. Essentially, hadron collisions are experiments that explore matter's deepest structure by creating conditions similar to those just after the Big Bang.