Scientist at the Large Hadron Collider hailed it a success as the beams collided just after midday at the CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research) in Switzerland giving it’s first data to the scientists.

The experiment that was surrounded in controversy due to its cost and two earlier failures finally was hailed a success as by midday the $10 billion dollar experiment was receiving it’s first batch of data.

CERN officials said that the “Experiments are collecting their first physics data – historic moment here!” on an online broadcasting page.

The two beams that travelled at 3.5 TeV (trillion electronvolt) smashed into each other in the 17-mile tunnel producing showers of particles.

The aim of the experiment was to gain a deeper understanding of fundamental physics including the recreation of the big bang theory.

Another important theory that the LHC are trying to prove is the “god particle” or in other words the existence of the Higgs Bosun which will explain the reasons behind matter having mass.

Director for Accelerators Dr Steve Myers said: “We have finally got the beams into collision. It’s a great time for us and the first real milestone for starting to do discovery physics in the LHC.”

“It’s taken three attempts to get started this morning but we are now in collision, now in stable beams and the detectors are taking data continuously.”

To scientists the experiment is the greatest achievement of man kind after Neil Armstrong stepping on the moon’s surface in 1969.

The data taken from the protons crashing at near speed of light can take months if not years to decipher but the results obtained can lead to many un-answered questions that scientists ravel in.

Video of the moment the Large Hadron Collider started collecting data

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