particle physics
If Axions Explain Dark Matter, it Could be Possible to Detect Them Nearby Neutron Stars
Astronomers look for dark matter in the radio signals of neutron stars. If found it could solve two problems in…
A Fifth Fundamental Force Could Really Exist, But We Haven’t Found It Yet
The universe is governed by four fundamental forces: gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong and weak nuclear forces. These forces drive…
Astronomy Cast Ep. 486: Particle Physics Update
It's time for a news update. This time from the field of particle physics. It turns out there have been…
Astronomy Cast Ep. 392: The Standard Model – Intro
Humans, cars and planets are made of molecules. And molecules are made of atoms. Atoms are made of protons, neutrons…
A Universe of 10 Dimensions
When someone mentions "different dimensions," we tend to think of things like parallel universes - alternate realities that exist parallel…
BICEP2 All Over Again? Researchers Place Higgs Boson Discovery in Doubt
At the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Europe, faster is better. Faster means more powerful particle collisions and looking deeper…
First Precise Measurement of Antihydrogen
The best science — the questions that capture and compel any human being — is enshrouded in mystery. Here’s an…
How CERN’s Discovery of Exotic Particles May Affect Astrophysics
You may have heard that CERN announced the discovery (confirmation, actually. See addendum below.) of a strange particle known as Z(4430). A…
NOvA Experiment Nabs Its First Neutrinos
Neutrinos are some of the most abundant, curious, and elusive critters in particle physics. Incredibly lightweight -- nigh massless, according…
Space Station Detector Finds Extra Antimatter in Space, Maybe Dark Matter
The first results from the largest and most complex scientific instrument on board the International Space Station has provided tantalizing…