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Particle physics

From the Standard Model to the Large Hadron Collider and from quantum physics to the Higgs boson, read about the latest discoveries in particle physics here.

Related topics: The Big Bang theory, Black holes, Dark matter

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

Scientists find 'ghost particles' spewing from our Milky Way galaxy in landmark discovery (video)

By Charles Q. Choi published 29 June 23

Astronomers have detected high-energy neutrinos coming from within our Milky Way galaxy, potentially opening up an exciting new window of research.

A lattice of black lines overlays a yellow background. The lines shift and split causing the image to move and the lattice to temporarily appear offset and doubled.

Exotic new state of matter discovered by squishing subatomic particles into an ultradense crystal

By Staff Writer published 26 June 23

By shining a strong beam of light through two chemical compounds, scientists discovered a unique new state of matter made of particles called excitons.

a technician stands near a set of tubes and wires at the large hadron collider

Large Hadron Collider may be closing in on the universe's missing antimatter

By Keith Cooper published 16 June 23

Physicists at the Large Hadron Collider are closing in on an explanation for why we live in a universe of matter and not antimatter.

Image showing dozens of faraway galaxies in deep space.

Dark matter atoms may form shadowy galaxies with rapid star formation

By Paul Sutter published 7 June 23

Dark matter, the invisible material that makes up the vast majority of the universe's mass, may collect itself to form atoms, a new simulation shows.

a black hole surrounded by a ring of white light

Strange star system may hold first evidence of an ultra-rare 'dark matter star'

By Paul Sutter published 25 May 23

In a distant star system, a sunlike star orbits an invisible object that may be the first example of a 'boson star' made of dark matter, new research suggests.

Artist's illustration of a supermassive black hole shows a large circular black void on the right with swirls of blue, pink and orange gathering toward the center.

Supermassive black holes share a surprising link with subatomic gluon 'color glass walls'

By Robert Lea published 3 April 23

Scientists have discovered a connection between supermassive black holes and densely packed gluon 'walls' called color glass condensates.

'Ant-Man' star Paul Rudd quizzes NASA expert on quantum science

By Robert Lea published 30 March 23

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania star Paul Rudd can’t get enough of the quantum realm. Rudd took to YouTube to ask a NASA quantum physicist some big questions.

a series of ripples on a blue grid background

Faint gravitational waves may be from primordial fractures in space-time

By Paul Sutter published 15 March 23

The early universe may have been such a violent place that space-time itself fractured like a pane of glass, releasing gravitational waves that astronomers say we may have already detected.

Dark energy could lead to a second (and third, and fourth) Big Bang, new research suggests

By Paul Sutter published 7 March 23

Scientists have proposed a way that the universe could stop expanding, ending in a 'Big Crunch' that resets space and time as we know it.

X-rays reveal how 450-year-old Tycho supernova became a giant cosmic particle accelerator

By Sharmila Kuthunur published 6 March 23

In new research, astronomers have mapped the magnetic field in the historic Tycho supernova remnant that accelerates charged particles close to the speed of light.

A photograph of one of Leonardo da Vinci's sketches of experiments to understand gravity.

Leonardo da Vinci's lost sketches show early experiments to understand gravity

By Samantha Mathewson published 18 February 23

Leonardo da Vinci's centuries-old sketches reveal he may have understood key aspects of gravity long before Galileo, Newton and Einstein.

Artist's illustration showing a gluon appearing as a bubble around a quark, holding it together.

What are gluons?

By Keith Cooper published 29 January 23

Reference Discover how gluons bind quarks together to form protons and neutrons and explore the form weird form of matter in which they existed just after the Big Bang.

Neutrinos are leptons and are created during a supernova, here a graphic illustration of a supernova. Bright yellow and white streaks spread out from a central bright white point. Swirls of purple and blue fill the right side of the image and on the left a black backdrop with a handful of bright stars.

Leptons: The elementary particles explained

By Keith Cooper published 20 January 23

Reference Here we look at what leptons are, how they fit in the Standard Model of particle physics, and their importance in atoms and particle decay.

A new particle accelerator at Michigan State University is set to discover thousands of never-before-seen isotopes.

Powerful linear accelerator begins smashing atoms – 2 scientists on the team explain how it could reveal rare forms of matter

By Sean Liddick, Artemis Spyrou published 15 January 23

The accelerator at FRIB started working at low power, but when it finishes ramping up to full strength, it will be the most powerful heavy-ion accelerator on Earth.

Concept art of quantum mechanics, theory of superstrings.

Does consciousness explain quantum mechanics?

By Paul Sutter published 3 January 23

A wild theory suggests that consciousness may explain quantum mechanics, by forcing the subatomic particles to choose one concrete outcome.

Photo of Nobel Prize winner John F. Clauser

Nobody took John F. Clauser's quantum experiments seriously. 50 years later, he's collecting a Nobel Prize.

By Jonas Enander published 28 December 22

John F. Clauser reflects on receiving the 2022 Nobel Prize in physics for the groundbreaking work he did 50 years ago.

This illustration shows the three basic steps astronomers use to calculate how fast the universe expands over time, a value called the Hubble constant. All the steps involve building a strong "cosmic distance ladder," by starting with measuring accurate distances to nearby galaxies and then moving to galaxies farther and farther away. This ladder is a series of measurements of different kinds of astronomical objects with an intrinsic brightness that researchers can use to calculate distances.

How do we know the fundamental constants are constant? We don't.

By Paul Sutter published 27 December 22

Physicists have measured no changes in time or space for any of the fundamental constants of nature.

Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California briefly ignited nuclear fusion using powerful lasers.

Major breakthrough in pursuit of nuclear fusion unveiled by US scientists

By Tereza Pultarova published 13 December 22

American researchers have achieved a major breakthrough paving the way toward nuclear fusion energy generation, but major hurdles remain.

The mixed time directions of the photon could help physicists probe inside black holes.

'Quantum time flip' makes light move simultaneously forward and backward in time

By Ben Turner published 13 December 22

The time-flipped photon can't be used to restage "Back to the Future," but it could help us figure out some of the universe's most mysterious phenomena.

An illustration of antimatter particles entering the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider.

The Large Hadron Collider reveals how far antimatter can travel through the Milky Way

By Robert Lea published 12 December 22

The antimatter counterparts of light atomic nuclei can travel vast distances through the Milky Way before being absorbed, new findings have revealed.