The Hadron collider is in the news because it's the largest of the colliders built. It rockets sub atomic particles in it's tube to essentially be going the collider pipes at 11,0090 times a second. When these particles are injected and are going in opposite direction they'll collide. Scientists are studying what happens when they hit. What's created are even smaller particles and other quantum physics matter that only lasts for billionths of a second. They're hoping to study these collisions to get clues to how the Universe was created. Naysayers are saying that these collisions could end the world since this is the most powerful collider built to date and we don't know what's going to happen when these tests are carried out on a considerably larger scale. Some are even saying that we're going to create a black hole, which will then subsequently devour the planet. Keep in mind that there were those who also thought that when the first atom bomb was tested in the New Mexico desert, that it would ignite the planets atmosphere and everyone would burn to death. This camp of thought also thought there would be something catastrophic when we broke the sound barrier. So are there dangers in using the Hadron collider? I suppose there is always the fear that we're not taking something into consideration when operating in new uncharted territory but I think it incredibly and highly unlikely that this collider will end the world. And if I'm wrong, it won't matter as there won't be anyone to call me on it.

Squrlsrts did an excellent job explaining this, but if it'll help more, here's my bit! So what's going on, is tiny tiny particles are being run around a huge circular track in opposite directions and being smashed into each other. Dangers are relatively unknown as other "colliders" have never been this size before. Some people think it could end the world, who knows how, but its doubtful as nothing terrible has happened at any other collider. Scientists are trying to see just what will happen when they do it. Some tests might tell us about smaller basic particles inside atoms, some might show us "exotic" isotopes or elements that are essentially man made and nonexistant anywhere else in the universe, some might just be out of curiosity. We've essentially done this before, but never on this scale. There is some danger, but we've yet to have a problem with anything like it.

If you're a journalist, I'm sure you have a more active than average curiosity as to why things are the way they are. Don't get to wrapped on this and go down the wrong rabbit hole. These sorts of things are very interesting but at the end of the day, what or how will it change your life? It's very seldom that discoveries in this situation can be transferred into making an improvement in eveyday life, or go on to fix some chronic problem vexing the human race. I would suggest you pick up a copy of Scientific American if this area has gotten your attention. Many of the articles will cause your head to explode if you try to follow the formulas. Most of the articles though are written in such a manner that you can understand the theory and concept without having to understand them mathmatically (sp?)