Particle Jeopardy
Next time you watch the Jeopardy quiz show on TV, don't be surprised if you learn about a particle physics experiment at Fermilab. Earlier this year, candidates were asked to give the question whose answer is: "This 8-letter particle, named for its lack of charge, is being studied by beaming it 450 miles in .0025 seconds." For physicist Jeff Nelson, assistant professor at the College of William & Mary, the answer was easy; unfortunately, he was watching at home, not participating on the show.
 |
|
Image: Sandbox Studio |
Together with about 200 colleagues, Nelson works on the MINOS experiment. The scientists examine the properties of this sought-after particle as it travels close to the speed of light from Fermilab to a particle detector located in an old iron mine in Soudan, Minnesota. "You know you've made it when you've inspired Jeopardy," Nelson says with a smile.
So how did he manage to get a photo of the Jeopardy question on TV when a rerun of "Episode 172-Tournament of Champions" aired in August? "I do tape Jeopardy every day on my digital video recorder," he says. "My wife and I have a nightly grudge match. One point for the first correct answer to each question."
On this particular night, Nelson took advantage of his MINOS research, being the first to shout the correct answer: "What is a neutrino?"
Kurt Riesselman
Click here to download the pdf version of this article.
