quantum uncertainty

Antimatter

According to the laws of physics, the world should not exist. To explain why we're here, scientists are recreating the universe's fiery beginnings by pitting matter against antimatter and watching them annihilate.

The call comes in from the control room. Stanford University's particle accelerator-one of the largest machines on Earth-has been shut down because of a failed magnet. This is bad news for the scientists I have traveled across the continent to see: Their experiment was designed to run 24 hours a day and the disruption will cost them reams of precious data. But me, I'm thrilled. Normally, the innards of the radiation-spewing accelerator are off-limits. But idle, it poses no danger.

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