Our amazing picture of the particles and forces that make reality took decades of invention and experiment to piece together
LOOK closely enough and almost everything we know of in the universe boils down to a handful of elementary particles. These entities constitute individual threads of the scientific masterpiece that is the standard model of particle physics, our current best picture of matter and its workings.
Its roots lay in the quantum revolution early in the 20th century, where the classical, common-sense notion that everything is predictable was unceremoniously thrown out. By contrast, the development of the standard model was anything but a revolution. Instead, it was more like the gradual forming of a new order, constructed piece by piece by dozens of physicists across decades.
Many expected the new order to fail. But it didn’t. In fact, the standard model has survived every test we have thrown at it, including attempts to create new particles or to find new forces that it doesn’t predict . So how, exactly, did physicists working throughout the 20th century come up with such an unbreakable framework? This is the story of the most successful theory we have ever devised.
Life was simpler in the 1920s. As far as anyone knew, the only elementary particles were photons, which made up light; protons, found in the centres of atoms; and electrons, which orbited around atomic nuclei. It was a simple picture, but a troublingly immutable one. According to quantum physics, which arose in that decade, there was no way for these particles to be created or destroyed. Yet, for example, when you shine a torch, electrons in the torch seemingly create and …
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Pregnant Kourtney Kardashian Is Home and ‘Feeling Better’ After Brief Hospital Visit: SourceKourtney Kardashian — who is currently pregnant and expecting a baby boy with husband Travis Barker — is back home after a brief trip to the hospital, a source tells PEOPLE. Barker's band Blink-182 previously postponed European tour dates on Friday due to an 'urgent family matter'
Weiterlesen »
Demand in focus as UK homebuilders set to brief markets on recent trading By ReutersDemand in focus as UK homebuilders set to brief markets on recent trading
Weiterlesen »
Summer Of Strikes: A Brief History Of LA's Labor MovementLabor historian Caroline Luce says L.A. was once an anti-union town. This summer, it's been on the frontlines of a labor resurgence.
Weiterlesen »
FAA lifts brief nationwide ground stop for United AirlinesA brief nationwide ground stop for United Airlines flights was lifted after the airline experienced computer issues, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Ground stops halt flights at their origin of departure, not at their arrival destination. “We are experiencing a systemwide technology issue and are holding all aircraft at their departure airports,” United said in a statement earlier. A brief…
Weiterlesen »
United Airlines lifts nationwide ground stop after brief IT issueThe ground stop was lifted about 15 minutes after the initial notice was released.
Weiterlesen »
United Airlines resumes departures following brief pause due to tech issue By Investing.comUnited Airlines resumes departures following brief pause due to tech issue
Weiterlesen »