Startling discovery threatens to upend Standard Model of particle physics

After a decade-long analysis, a collaboration of physicists has made the most precise measurement of the mass of a key particle – and it may unravel physics as we know it. The new measurement differs drastically from predictions based on the Standard M… Continue reading Startling discovery threatens to upend Standard Model of particle physics

“Quantum tornadoes” mark crossover from classical to quantum physics

The universe is governed by two sets of seemingly incompatible laws of physics – there’s the classical physics we’re used to on our scale, and the spooky world of quantum physics on the atomic scale. MIT physicists have now observed the moment atoms sw… Continue reading “Quantum tornadoes” mark crossover from classical to quantum physics

“Quantum tornadoes” mark crossover from classical to quantum physics

The universe is governed by two sets of seemingly incompatible laws of physics – there’s the classical physics we’re used to on our scale, and the spooky world of quantum physics on the atomic scale. MIT physicists have now observed the moment atoms sw… Continue reading “Quantum tornadoes” mark crossover from classical to quantum physics

CERN experiments investigate whether antimatter falls up or down

Physicists at CERN have discovered that antimatter falls down. Sure, it sounds like an obvious thing, but scientists haven’t yet been able to confirm that it responds to gravity in exactly the same way as regular matter does. A new experiment provides … Continue reading CERN experiments investigate whether antimatter falls up or down

Lifetime of Higgs boson measured to within septillionths of a second

Physicists at CERN have measured the life of the Higgs boson with greater accuracy than ever before. Since the legendary particle only lives for a tiny fraction a second, the scientists came up with a creative workaround to calculate the new figure.Con… Continue reading Lifetime of Higgs boson measured to within septillionths of a second

Next-gen particle accelerator magnet ramps up at record speed

The role magnets play in physics research is a critical one, helping guide the trajectory of particle beams that allow for high-speed collisions and groundbreaking discoveries. But not all magnets are create equal, with some quicker to generate the req… Continue reading Next-gen particle accelerator magnet ramps up at record speed

Gravitational waves could reveal dark matter clouds around black holes

Dark matter is one of the most puzzling mysteries of science, with a huge range of suspects being investigated. In a new study, astronomers have searched for clouds of hypothetical, ultralight particles that could congregate around black holes, and mak… Continue reading Gravitational waves could reveal dark matter clouds around black holes

“Ghost particles” detected in the Large Hadron Collider for first time

Physicists have detected “ghost particles” in the Large Hadron Collider for the first time. An experiment called FASER picked up telltale signals of neutrinos being produced in particle collisions, which can help scientists better understand key physic… Continue reading “Ghost particles” detected in the Large Hadron Collider for first time

How the universe’s expansion may have stopped dark matter taking over

Dark matter is a core component of the universe, but how did we end up with exactly the amount needed to hold the universe together? Physicists have proposed a new mechanism where dark matter particles in the early universe converted regular matter int… Continue reading How the universe’s expansion may have stopped dark matter taking over

The antimatter enigma: What is it and why didn’t it destroy the universe?

It sounds like sci-fi: normal matter has an “evil twin” that annihilates as soon as the two come into contact. But this antimatter is very real, and despite decades of study it remains very mysterious. So what actually is antimatter? Where is it? Why i… Continue reading The antimatter enigma: What is it and why didn’t it destroy the universe?