Archive

Illustration of a lab where scientists are surrounded by computers and writing equations on a chalkboard

09/28/21

The coevolution of particle physics and computing

Over time, particle physics and astrophysics and computing have built upon one another’s successes. That coevolution continues today.

Illustration of people accessing a conference individually on floating conference badges

09/21/21

How COVID made physics more accessible

Accommodations necessitated by the global pandemic made participation in academic conferences easier for physicists with and without disabilities.

Illustration showing the many facets of a scientist

09/14/21

Bringing the whole self to science

The Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science helps students and professionals find community.

Illustration: a kid is stuck on the top of a teeter-totter with a mysterious object holding the other side

09/07/21

Curious physics results could shed light on dark matter

Even experiments that aren’t looking for dark matter directly could give us hints about the mysterious substance that permeates our universe.

Photographer Samuel Hertzog, in an orange construction-site uniform, stands among heavy equipment in the tunnel

08/31/21

Photographing the HL-LHC

A CERN photographer and videographer writes about his experiences documenting the ongoing upgrade that will turn the Large Hadron Collider into the High-Luminosity LHC.

Diagram of the progress of a muon through the CMS detector

08/26/21

Teaching a particle detector new tricks

Scientists hoping to find new, long-lived particles at the Large Hadron Collider recently realized they may already have the detector to do it.

08/24/21

Video: Simulated QGP

A simulation shows the formation of quark-gluon plasma.

Courtesy of Chistopher Plumberg

Still from a video showing a simulation of the formation of quark-gluon plasma

08/24/21

Can light melt atoms into goo?

The ATLAS experiment at CERN sees possible evidence of quark-gluon plasma production during collisions between photons and heavy nuclei inside the Large Hadron Collider.

Illustration: Neutrinos revealed in particle physics advent calendar with scientists eyeing another possibility

08/17/21

The search for the sterile neutrino

Back when it was theorized, scientists weren’t sure they would ever detect the neutrino; now they’re searching for a version of the particle that could be even more elusive.

Illustration of the African continent surrounded by equations

08/10/21

A collective strategy for physics in Africa

For the first time, African physicists and other researchers are creating a grassroots strategy for the future of physics research and education.

08/04/21

LHCb discovers longest-lived exotic matter yet

The newly discovered tetraquark provides a unique window into the interactions of the particles that make up atoms.

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.

07/28/21

Changing a name without forfeiting credit

A group of US national laboratories, publishers, journals and other organizations is making it easier for researchers to update their names on past publications.

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.