Scientists Beaming After Test of Big Atom Smasher A small blip on a computer screen sent champagne corks popping among physicists in Switzerland. The blip was literally of cosmic proportions, representing a new tool to probe the birth of the universe. The world's largest atom smasher passed its first test Wednesday as scientists said their powerful tool is almost ready to reveal how the tiniest particles were first created after the "big bang," which many theorize was the massive explosion that formed the stars, planets, and everything.