Astronomers generally accept the theory that our universe looks the way it does because of cosmic inflation — rapid expansion in the moments after its birth. This explains the expanse and apparent flat shape of the universe observed through instruments like NASA’s Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe. But inflation isn’t the only model that explains the [...]
Today, scientists from the CDF collaboration have unveiled the world's most precise measurement of the W boson mass, based on data gathered at the Tevatron accelerator. The precision of this measurement surpasses all previous measurements combined and restricts the space in which the Higgs particle should reside according to the Standard Model, the theoretical framework that describes all known subatomic particles and forces.
Albert Einstein's law of special relativity might shrug off the challenge of faster-than-light neutrinos after all. Scientists in the OPERA collaboration announced today that they have found two possible causes for the surprising results they presented in September 2011, in which neutrinos seemed to beat Einstein's cosmic speed limit.
Our February issue runs the gamut from the proud 30-year-legacy of the Tevatron Collider to the latest popular physics sensation: faster-than-light neutrinos.
You're invited to tour an underground cavern that holds one of the largest scientific experiments in the world. Tomorrow, Feb. 15, the head of the CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider, physicist Joe Incandela, will chat live from the CMS detector 100 meters underground in France via a Google+ Hangout.
: skip to main skip to sidebar Monday , February 13, 2012 Why Physics Students Need Philosophy Too Quantum Mechanics is notoriously difficult , and the subject has raised some deep questions about the natural world . Perhaps the best known example is the Schrodinger's cat thought experiment that poses the following question : does quantum mechanics imply that a cat can be both dead and alive at the same time Physics education researchers have found that professors often glance over or sidestep fundamental questions like this , and it's hindering students' understanding . Touching on these interpretive questions not only makes students more excited about physics , but it also leads to a better understanding of the underlying physics . principles Schrodinger's cat is placed in a box with a
CERN scientists will begin running the Large Hadron Collider at a higher energy than ever before when this winter’s technical stop comes to a close in mid-March, the laboratory announced in a press release today.
Before next week’s holiday, we at Symmetry Breaking want to know about your affair with physics. Send us a love letter (or “Dear John” letter) about your research, a playful pun about a physical concept, or a story about a connection you’ve made with a fellow scientist. Post your comments here or send them to scharley@fnal.gov. We will publish our favorites on Feb. 14.