X-ray lasers, a pipe cleaning ferret, transmuting a non-precious metal into gold. Come learn about the sometimes absurd history of particle accelerators. Just over one third of all modern Nobel prizes in physics, chemistry and medicine were awarded for work done at these devices. We'll start from the beginning in the early 1900's and make our to the present where modern day physicists are fighting to create beams with every greater energy and intensity. Along the way we'll explore some of the interesting physics which powers these devices and the modern day problems that face researchers using them.