When researchers reanalyzed the gold-standard data set of the early universe, they concluded that the cosmos must be “closed,” or curled up like a ball. Most others remain unconvinced.
Light sources are the ultimate killer apps for particle physics technology. Their brilliant X-rays illuminate every aspect of the material world, from the inner workings of cells to the intricate dance of the electrons that create chemical bonds.
Planning and designing the $900 million Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment takes more than a village. It takes a hives worth of scientists, engineers, technicians, accountants, and other specialists of every stripe.
When it comes to detecting neutrinos or particles of dark matter, four noble elements--helium, neon, argon, and xenon--stand out for their standoffishness.
Doing big science takes big effort and big cooperation. Building and installing one of the world's largest digital cameras to conduct the most extensive galaxy survey to date requires scientists and manufacturers from across the globe.
Bathed in orange lighting reminiscent of a beat-generation lounge, 200 people grabbed beers and pretzels and settled in to watch six particle physicists compete for their affection.
When David Lawrence joined the Brookhaven High School Research Program at age 15, he said he wanted a project challenging enough to catch the attention of the judges at the Intel Science Talent Search.
To keep track of the roughly 35 papers the BaBar collaboration will publish in the next year, the high-tech experiment went low-tech this summer. It transferred data from computers to Post-it notes.