Swiss supercollider puts U.S. on sidelines

DALLAS, May 25 (UPI) -- As the Swiss prepare to unveil a powerful particle accelerator, the United States finds itself in the "minor leagues" of particle physics, scientists say.

There is still consternation among the scientific community over a decision by Congress 15 years ago to cut off funding for the proposed Superconducting Super Collider near Dallas, a decision that continues to have consequences for the nation's scientific competitiveness, the Houston Chronicle reported Sunday.

The move by CERN Laboratory of Switzerland to open the world's most powerful particle accelerator later this year will result in the United States losing its long-held hegemony as the leader in the field, Texas A&M physicist Bhaskar Dutta told the newspaper.

"Europe's now playing in the major leagues, and we're in the minors," he said.

The demise of the Superconducting Super Collider project in 1993 came after its costs ballooned from $4.4 billion in 1987 to as much as $12 billion, a situation many scientists blamed on poor management, the Chronicle said. The project was also was victimized by foreign investors who promised funding but never came through.