PARTICLE PHYSICS

&

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

View my previous article here -

Particle Physics - Introduction

View the next article here -

Antimatter - Introduction

-----------------------------------------

In the previous article, I did write about what particle physics is. Let us go a little more in-depth about what particle physicists do.

The main goal of particle physicists remains the study of the universe. Over the past half-century, particle physicists have formulated the Standard Model, a framework that explains the visible universe from the smallest to the largest scales.

With its fundamental particles and the forces that act between them, this model describes nearly all of the visible matter that has been seen in experiments so far.

Dark matter and dark energy make up 95 per cent of the universe, yet scientists are still trying to figure out their origins and what they are made of.

Others in the community research about the neutrino, an extremely tiny, prevailing particle that seems to have played an essential role in the development of the universe.

Others study the Higgs field, which gives elementary particles their mass. Some seek findings that would change our understanding of how the universe works.

Particle physicists are learning how the most basic building blocks of nature work and interact. That allows us to understand the how and the why of the universe around us, and gives us control over those building blocks to develop new materials, new applications and new industries.

The question that arises now is, why does it matter? 🤔

Particle physics helps us to answer various questions like -

Where did the universe come from?
How did it all start
When will the universe end?
Will it ever end?
and much more...

It gives us a better understanding of the world we live in!

Scientists create several technologies for this purpose and these have come to have their applications in various other fields as well like Medicine -

Medications are developed at particle accelerators called synchrotrons. These produce exceptionally intense beams of X-rays that can determine the precise structure of viruses and mutations that cause disease, and screen potential drug candidates to find the ones that will most likely work.
Drugs developed in this way include Kaletra, one of the most-prescribed AIDS medications, and Tamiflu, an antiviral treatment that slows the spread of influenza.
Particle physics has also made possible and advanced other treatment options, including accelerator-based therapy.
Each year, tens of millions of patients receive X-ray, proton and ion therapy to treat cancer around the world.

This is not it. There are many other applications as well.

The research has led to the development of an operating system, known as the "Scientific Linux". Its primary aim is to provide researchers with a computing platform that is stable, secure and easily customized.
This platform is also used by other professionals like medicine researchers.

Illustration by Sandbox Studio, Chicago

The reason innovations come from particle physics research is because the scientists, in their attempt to solve the unknown problems, come up with completely unique solutions, and as a result, find their application in many other fields as well.

People trained in particle physics develop a unique way of thinking. They know how to approach unknowns, solve problems, design their own equipment and never give up. They know how to deal with huge data sets and work in huge collaborations with people from all over the world. And, with these skills, they go on to do great things in particle physics and beyond.