Particle Physics

The mind-bending experiments taking place in particle accelerators around the world, including the Large Hadron Collider. Quarks, munons, bosons, and dark matter galore.

Latest in Particle Physics

Photo of Mileva Maric and Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein’s love letters are headed to auction Albert Einstein’s love letters are headed to auction

A technician inspects a prototype LISA telescope.

NASA unveils model of LISA, a satellite array for studying ripples in space-time NASA unveils model of LISA, a satellite array for studying ripples in space-time

This photo taken during a media tour on October 11, 2024 shows the neutrino detector, a stainless steel and acrylic sphere around 35 meters in diameter, at the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (Juno) in Kaiping, in southern China's Guangdong province.

China races to unlock one of the biggest mysteries in particle physics China races to unlock one of the biggest mysteries in particle physics

Z Machine operating at Sandia National Laboratories

Could nukes deflect an asteroid? ‘X-ray scissors’ offer scientists clues. Could nukes deflect an asteroid? ‘X-ray scissors’ offer scientists clues.

A powerful laser shines into a jet of gas, creating a bright plasma and generating ultraviolet light. The light leaves a visible white line as it interacts with leftover gas in the vacuum chamber. This process helps scientists precisely measure the energy needed to excite the thorium-229 nucleus, which is the core of a future nuclear clock.

Move over, atomic clocks: Nuclear clocks are on the way Move over, atomic clocks: Nuclear clocks are on the way

Illustration of attomicroscope firing three beams

The world’s fastest microscope captures electrons down to the attosecond The world’s fastest microscope captures electrons down to the attosecond

Particles rush through a long tunnel in the Large Hadron Collider.

How the Large Hadron Collider gets reset and refreshed each year How the Large Hadron Collider gets reset and refreshed each year

By Riccardo Maria Bianchi / The Conversation

Illustration of atomic Fresnel lens

This lens is just three atoms thick and works like a quantum lighthouse This lens is just three atoms thick and works like a quantum lighthouse

LSST Camera Deputy Project Manager Travis Lange shines a flashlight into the LSST Camera.

A 3,200-megapixel digital camera is ready for its cosmic photoshoot A 3,200-megapixel digital camera is ready for its cosmic photoshoot

Caption: CERT’s four-legged Robodog can manuevuer throguh cramped spaces and use sensors to spot fires, leaks, or other hazards.

A four-legged ‘Robodog’ is patrolling the Large Hadron Collider A four-legged ‘Robodog’ is patrolling the Large Hadron Collider

By Mack DeGeurin

The particle accelerator on a one-cent coin.

How physicists built the world’s smallest particle accelerator How physicists built the world’s smallest particle accelerator

CERN scientists in hard hats putting antihydrogen in a vacuum chamber tube to test the effects of gravity on antimatter

Does antimatter fall down or up? We now have a definitive answer. Does antimatter fall down or up? We now have a definitive answer.

A metal sphere under construction as workers climb over it.

A massive detector in China will try to find a supernova before it happens A massive detector in China will try to find a supernova before it happens

By Briley Lewis

Gold atom with nucleus and floating particles to depict what is matter

What is matter? It’s not as basic as you’d think. What is matter? It’s not as basic as you’d think.

Scientist inspects portion of LCLS installation

This record-breaking X-ray laser is ready to unlock quantum secrets This record-breaking X-ray laser is ready to unlock quantum secrets

collage of cern images

How the world’s biggest particle accelerator is racing to cook up plasma from after the big bang How the world’s biggest particle accelerator is racing to cook up plasma from after the big bang

The ring-shaped machinery of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.

A fleeting subatomic particle may be exposing flaws in a major physics theory A fleeting subatomic particle may be exposing flaws in a major physics theory

Green high density laser array

Colorado is getting a state-of-the-art laser fusion facility Colorado is getting a state-of-the-art laser fusion facility

Euclid Space Telescope mounted on SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in a holding facility before dark energy and dark matter mission launch

Euclid space telescope begins its search through billions of galaxies for dark matter and energy Euclid space telescope begins its search through billions of galaxies for dark matter and energy

The IceCube Lab is seen under a starry night sky, with the Milky Way appearing over low auroras in the background.

The Milky Way’s ghostly neutrinos have finally been found The Milky Way’s ghostly neutrinos have finally been found