Explain it in 60 Seconds: Lattice QCD

Dark Energy Camera scans ancient skies

Gazing into space, scientists wonder why the universe is expanding ever faster. What mysterious force is at work? By recording the light from hundreds of millions of galaxies from a mountaintop in Chile, they hope to find out what'’s going on.

Helium's shrinking bubble

Helium is the lifeblood of large particle accelerators. As the world’s supply dwindles, the particle physics community must take steps to preserve this precious commodity or learn to live without it.

Virtual particles

Virtual particles’ existence is fleeting, but their effects are real.

Accidental beauties

These exquisite test samples transcend their original purpose—ensuring all the metal parts of SLAC accelerators and detectors are flawless.

Earth’s radiation belts

ATLAS shrunk

Carpenters working at particle physics labs are used to jobs their colleagues in private industry wouldn't dream of tackling.

Chasing charm in China

The flight plan of today's particle physicist can be a dizzying thing.