Students become scientists on International Cosmic Day

Unharmed in quake, Gran Sasso lab goes to the rescue

When an earthquake flattened buildings in a number of towns across central Italy, physicists turned their focus from research to rescue and rebuilding.

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.