Independent Lens . THE ATOM SMASHERS

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Most of the other developed nations are looking at the U.S. as if we’re in some seizure of insanity, because they’ve always looked to the U.S. as being a leader.

—New York Times science writer Natalie Angier

After funding cut backs, Fermilab—a premier U.S. government research laboratory focusing on particle physics—is struggling to survive. Physics, politics and international competition collide as scientists race to find one of the most elusive sub-atomic particles ever theorized: the Higgs boson.

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			The Making Of: "When the Tevatron broke down, we were allowed access into the four-mile underground tunnel. No one is allowed in the tunnel during operations, of course, because the amount of radiation and electricity down there can be fatal." More >>


	The Filmmakers: "We don’t attempt to answer questions in our film, but rather to raise them. Is this research worth doing? Should we care about it? Should the U.S. participate in it or let it get done elsewhere?" Find out more about the filmmaking team >>

funded by

Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people

with additional support from

the National Endowment for the Arts

PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

The Making Of:

The Filmmakers: