Magazine

Applications of fundamental research are a theme of the November/December edition of CERN Courier. Superconducting radio-frequency technology developed for a linear electron–positron collider is driving X-ray free-electron lasers worldwide. Normal-conducting RF developed for the proposed Compact Linear Collider is being applied to use electrons to destroy tumours. Proton beams are being used for novel non-invasive treatments of cardiac arrhythmias. Detectors developed to search for sterile neutrinos are being lined up to replace outmoded approaches to nuclear nonproliferation. Also in this issue: hints of low-frequency gravitational waves, feebly interacting particles to the fore, PCs and the future of computing, the latest from the LHC experiments, and more.