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How do scientists get lead into the LHC?

01/28/25

Sarah Charley

Once a year, the Large Hadron Collider smashes lead ions. But how do scientists get a heavy metal into a particle accelerator?

Illustration of band t-shirts of dark matter candidates

08/03/21

Drumming up dark photons

A group of scientists is hoping to detect dark matter using a nano-scale drum.

Illustration emphasizing feelings of isolation or loneliness while struggling with mental health issues

07/27/21

How to be human in physics

Four physicists share their experiences dealing with major setbacks, trauma, mental health issues and toxic work environments.

Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory above the clouds

07/20/21

Homebound astrophysicists miss mountaintops

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, travel bans and stay-at-home orders meant astrophysicists needed to find a new way to conduct their observations.

Illustration: Theory search vs. anomaly detection

07/13/21

Blink and it’s gone

Fast electronics and artificial intelligence are helping physicists capture data and decide what to keep and what to throw away.

Illustration: Wilson Hall and the CERN globe building are hockey players shaking hands

07/06/21

The odd(eron) couple

Scientists discovered a new particle by comparing data recorded at the LHC and the Tevatron.

Illustration representing properties of light

06/29/21

What is a photon?

The fundamental particle of light is both ordinary and full of surprises.

06/22/21

The Golden Particles

Symmetry writer Lauren Biron won Fermilab’s 2021 Virtual Physics Slam by hosting an award show with a physics theme.

Hand-help particle counter help by technician in DUNE detector

06/15/21

The other particle detector

When studying mysterious subatomic particles, researchers use a different kind of particle detector to prevent run-of-the-mill dust particles from getting in the way.

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