Build your own particle detector to make ionising particles visible and study the properties of different particle tracks.

Although we can't see them, ionising particles are part of our everyday life. For example, cosmic particles interacting with the upper layers of the Earth’s atmosphere produce showers of new particles, some of which reach ground level. Naturally occurring radioactive elements in the air emit alpha particles. Through interaction with certain detector materials, we can make tracks of ionising particles visible. 

Investigate balloon hovercraft and learn how engineers at CERN design and use air pad systems to move detector slices that are heavier than 500 elephants!

Technology at CERN is multidisciplinary, spans a huge range and is constantly pushing the boundaries of what we consider possible.  For example, engineers at CERN can move detector parts weighing over 1000 tonnes by using the power of air. These hover-craft-like airpads reduce friction and move detector parts efficiently.  

The shop in CERN Science Gateway is open from 8.30 to 17:30 on opening days.
There is currently no online shop.

Please note that the shop closes one hour after exhibitions and other activities, so be sure to set aside enough time for shopping. 

Visa, Mastercard, Postfinance, Maestro and Diners Club cards are all accepted. You can also pay in cash using Swiss francs or Euro notes. However, change is given in Swiss francs only.

CERN Shop conditions

Join us to explore the Universe at CERN. With hands-on experiments, real scientific objects, immersive environments and interactivity, the exhibitions at Science Gateway will bring CERN to life.

If you are passionate about engaging people of all ages and backgrounds, from all over the world, in science and research, then join one of our teams and make a difference.

From developing innovative exhibitions and hands-on lab workshops, to uncovering and sharing the exciting stories of CERN's research and technology on social media and other channels, to ensuring the smooth running of CERN Science Gateway, we cover a wide span of science communication activities.

We do not have any current position.

Ideasquare is the innovation space at cern, where collaborative methods, access to cern expertise, and cross-connectivity are used to generate potential solutions for the future of humanity. A place where people are given the license to dream.

Our activities revolve around six interlinked areas: hosting R&D&I projects, supporting selected innovation-focused EU-funded projects, prototyping, running design thinking workshops and associated educational programmes, organising events, and sharing knowledge in experimental innovation.

CERN’s famous landmark, the Globe of Science and Innovation, was initially designed by Geneva architects Hervé Dessimoz and Thomas Büchi as a model of a sustainable building for the Swiss national exhibition Expo ‘02. The Globe is made up of five different types of timber, which allows it to act as a natural carbon sink. 

CERN Science Gateway is a place to explore CERN and science through authentic, innovative and inspirational experiences.

CERN is the European laboratory for particle physics and one of the world’s leading scientific research laboratories. CERN's business is pure research - physicists and engineers use the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments to study Nature's tiniest building blocks, the fundamental particles, to find out how our world and the Universe work. 

We want to be open and accessible to all visitors, to ensure that the maximum number of people can enjoy the interactive exhibitions and activities on offer at Science Gateway and at CERN. Here you will find information about the accessibility of our facilities and who to contact if you need to know more. 

Accessible parking

A small number of accessible parking spaces are available for visitors who have a parking badge for people with disabilities . There is also a drop-off/pick-up point between the Reception building and the Auditorium.