CERN, the US and the W

In 1983, CERN physicists discovered the W boson earning them the first Nobel prize. This discovery served as the turning point for CERN from the point of view of the self-confidence of its physicists, the confidence of its fund-raisers, and its reputation in the US. However, this feat did not come as easy for CERN. Rivalry with the US revealed complexities. Nevertheless in the end, CERN physicists became the more successful. Recognizing this, US physicists agreed to collaborate with CERN physicists. Today, there is no more political competition over accelerators between the two groups.