RHIC (Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider)

The Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) is a scientific facility located at Brookhaven National Laboratory that accelerates and collides heavy ions, like gold atoms, at nearly the speed of light. These extreme collisions create incredibly high temperatures and densities, similar to conditions just after the Big Bang. Scientists use RHIC to study how matter behaved in the early universe and explore fundamental questions about the strong force, which binds protons and neutrons. By understanding this, researchers gain insights into the fundamental building blocks of matter and the evolution of our universe.