Heavy ion research involves the study of atomic nuclei that are heavier than hydrogen. Scientists accelerate these ions to high speeds and collide them with other nuclei to explore fundamental questions about matter, energy, and the universe. This research helps in understanding the properties of nuclear matter and the behavior of particles under extreme conditions. One of the key facilities for heavy ion research is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), where experiments like ALICE and CMS investigate the quark-gluon plasma, a state of matter believed to have existed shortly after the Big Bang. These studies contribute to our knowledge of nuclear physics and the formation of the universe.