Chris and I are nerdy. Maybe even super-nerdy, but I’m not sure if that’s a label you can give yourself, or whether it has to be bestowed upon you? This weekend we indulged our nerdy love with a Satur-date to see the Large Hadron Collider (LHC to those in the know) exhibit that is currently on loan to the Queensland Museum from the Science Museum, London. 
I started off the day with a Penny walk and a new-to-me yoga class. Starting the day with yoga left me feeling floaty and calm. 
Chris and I started our date with lunch at Mucho Mexicano in Southbank. Saturday was so hot but we got a lovely breezy spot under a fan and some cool drinks to start. The decor at this place is so colourful! They have a rainbow of gorgeous lacy cut-outs hanging from the ceiling, and murals painted on all the columns, and at each table a tiny little succulent! 
I also thought this guy was pretty cute! 
The menu is so good, and lots of gluten free or vegetarian options. I got two tacos filled with pumpkin, haloumi, pepitas, topped with a sweet chipotle dressing. Chris got a taco tasting plate with battered snapper, pulled beef, and grilled chicken tacos. 
After our delicious lunch we strolled along the riverbank to the museum. We wandered around the permanent exhibits for a little while – you have to say hello to the muttaburrasaurus when you’re at the Queensland Museum! Then we headed on in to learn all about CERN and the Large Hadron Collider. 
The exhibit was awesome! The team at the Science Museum, London worked with people in the film industry to create a truly interactive experience. As well as displays of the real equipment used to create the collider they had short film clips, and a charming re-enactment of the day CERN announced the discovery of the Higgs boson particle. The LHC is an example of humankind’s continual search to explain our universe, and I love that there is more to be discovered than we have discovered to date. Some cool facts about the LHC:
- The LHC is a 27 kilometer ring
- The magnets used to guide the proton beams are chilled to ‑271.3°C -> that’s colder than outer space!
- The collision of protons produces temperatures 100 000 times hotter than the center of the sun
- Through their work at CERN scientists will be able to examine conditions similar to the ones that occurred just after the Big Bang!
We spent over an hour in the exhibit! Although some of the mechanics of how CERN work are over my head I love stretching my brain and I can’t wait to learn more about how scientists are examining our universe. Chris and I had such a wonderful day out, and I am so grateful that we share a love of science and learning.
Next time you need a date idea why not try a day at the museum! 