91download.com supports a wide range of platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Dailymotion, Reddit, Bilibili, Douyin, Xiaohongshu and Zhihu, etc. Click the download button below to parse and download the current video
What if I told you that hidden deep within a tunnel-laden fortress on the Swiss-French border, scientists are manufacturing the most expensive and dangerous substance on Earth? A substance so elusive and rare, it challenges the very fabric of our understanding of the universe. Welcome to the world of antimatter.
Antimatter. It's a term that might conjure images of science fiction, but it's very much a reality, albeit an extremely rare one. The question that perplexes physicists worldwide is simple yet profound: Why is there so little antimatter in the universe? According to theory, the Big Bang should have birthed equal amounts of matter and antimatter. Yet, as we scan our cosmos, we see a universe dominated by matter, with antimatter几乎 nowhere to be found.
Curiosity piqued, I embarked on a journey to the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva, Switzerland, the epicenter of modern physics. As I stood in the ad hall, surrounded by the labyrinth of concrete and electromagnets, I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer ambition of the human mind. This is where antimatter is born, where particles are decelerated rather than accelerated, and where the secrets of the universe are meticulously hunted.
The process of creating antimatter is not only intellectually challenging but also staggeringly expensive. In 2006, the cost to produce a single gram of positrons was estimated at a staggering $25 billion. For antiprotons, the figure is even more jaw-dropping: approximately $3 quadrillion per gram. Yet, the value of antimatter lies not in its monetary worth but in the knowledge it holds about our universe.
Antimatter's true allure, however, lies in its propensity for annihilation. When it comes into contact with regular matter, the result is a conversion into pure light energy, a phenomenon so powerful that a teaspoon of antimatter could generate an explosion capable of destroying all of Manhattan. Yet, despite its destructive potential, the antimatter we can produce with current technology is far from harmful.
The quest to understand antimatter began with a mathematical prediction by English physicist Paul Dirac. His equations, which described the behavior of electrons, yielded two solutions: one for electrons and one for their antiparticles. This led to the discovery of the positron in 1932 by American physicist Carl Anderson, marking the first detection of antimatter.
At CERN, scientists are conducting experiments that push the boundaries of our understanding. They are studying the properties of antimatter, such as its behavior when dropped and its spectral lines, in the hope of uncovering any differences between it and regular matter. These experiments are not only fascinating but also crucial in addressing the fundamental question: Why is there so little antimatter in the universe?
As we continue to delve into the mysteries of antimatter, we are reminded that the pursuit of knowledge is a journey, not a destination. The discoveries made at CERN and elsewhere are paving the way for a deeper understanding of our universe, and with it, the hope of unlocking its greatest secrets.
So, what is the answer to our question? Why is there so little antimatter? We don't know yet. But with the dedication and ingenuity of scientists worldwide, we soon might. Stay tuned.
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook