Surprising Science — March 30, 2011

New Antimatter Particle Observed

Using data from the Large Hadron Collider experiment, a team of scientists has observed new behaviour of an exotic “B meson” particle that should shed light on a new physics.

bigthinkeditor

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Is the Large Hadron Collider getting closer to a new physics with the its recent observations of a new antimatter particle? “When the universe was formed from the Big Bang 14 billion years ago, matter and antimatter were created in equal quantities. Today, however, we find ourselves in a universe composed almost entirely of matter. The apparent disappearance of antimatter could be explained if scientists discover differences in the way matter and antimatter decay. ‘[The result] tells us about the structure of these decays and allows us to compare with theoretical models,’ said lead author Sheldon Stone from Syracuse University in New York.”

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Starts With A Bang

Ask Ethan: Do any particles not have antiparticles?

In our Universe, matter is made of particles, while antimatter is made of antiparticles. But sometimes, the physical lines get real blurry.

A digital abstract composition with dynamic white lines and swirls on a black background, incorporating some blue rectangular shapes that appear to disappear like antimatter.

Starts With A Bang

What was it like when the last antimatter disappeared?

In the early stages of the hot Big Bang, matter and antimatter were (almost) balanced. After a brief while, matter won out. Here’s how.

An artist's impression of an ultra high energy cosmic ray.

Starts With A Bang

The simplest explanation for ultra-high-energy cosmic rays

The highest-energy particles could be a sign of new, unexpected physics. But the simplest, most mundane explanation is particularly iron-ic.

Diagram illustrating the phase transition between hadronic matter, where protons and neutrons are formed, and quark-gluon plasma as a function of temperature and density.

Starts With A Bang

What was it like when protons and neutrons formed?

For a substantial fraction of a second after the Big Bang, there was only a quark-gluon plasma. Here’s how protons and neutrons arose.

A diagram showing the difference between matter and antimatter.

Starts With A Bang

What was it like when matter defeated antimatter?

In the earliest stages of the hot Big Bang, equal amounts of matter and antimatter should have existed. Why aren’t they equal today?

Up Next

Surprising Science

Predicting Nuclear Accidents

No single analysis can discern which nuclear power plants in the U.S. are most at risk for a disaster, but the probabilities of an accident damaging a reactor core have been roughly penciled out.