They aren't firing atoms at each other, this isn't splitting the atom, that's GCSE shit compared to this. They are looking for sub-sub-atoming particles. Is there anything inside of a Proton? And if there is, is that why they have mass? Technically quarks are the smallest part of a particle, but as it turns out we still have no idea what they do or how they do it. So if we can smash an particle and get a little something more than quarks out, a revolution in contemorary thinking wll emerge.