Instant Expert: Inside the subatomic universe
Saturday 18th January 2025, 10am - 5pm | Congress Centre, 28 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LS
***BOOK YOUR TICKET TODAY TO GET THE SUPER EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT***
In the early 20th Century, physicists like Rutherford, Bohr and Schrödinger devised our current model of the atom – with protons and neutrons in the nucleus and a cloud of electrons. But that was only the start of the story.
Ever since, scientists have devised theories and carried out experiments with gigantic, atom-smashing particle accelerators to probe deeper into what these particles are made of. Some believe our best theory, the Standard Model, is not quite complete.
Particle accelerators, such as those deep underground at huge facilities like Fermilab and CERN, have also given us evidence to answer other questions, such as what gives objects mass. They’ve also allowed us to explore mysterious particles like quarks and neutrinos.
Join six leading experts to find out everything we know about what stuff is made of.
At this Instant Expert, you’ll:
· Learn about the standard model of particle physics, and why it’s only the beginning.
· Explore the incredible results from particle colliders such as the LHC at CERN.
· Discover neutrinos, the strangest particles in the universe.
· Find out why matter has mass.
· Uncover why there’s more matter than antimatter in the universe.
Talks and speakers:
TALK 1: The standard model - the theory of (almost) everything
Harry Cliff, particle physicist, University of Cambridge
The standard model of particle physics is the closest we’ve come to a theory of everything, describing the basic ingredients of matter and the forces that hold them together with dazzling, sometimes maddening accuracy. In this talk, Dr Harry Cliff will describe how the standard model was assembled over more than a century, beginning with the discovery of the electron in a pokey Cambridge lab in 1897 and culminating with the observation of a Higgs boson using the largest scientific instrument ever built, the Large Hadron Collider, in 2012. Along the way we’ll discover the beautiful mathematical principles that underly this magnificent theory and the questions that it leaves unanswered.
TALK 2: Hunting for dark matter deep underground
Henrique Araújo, Astroparticle physicist, Imperial College London
Nature continues to challenge us with deceptively simple, yet important questions which we have collectively failed to answer over several decades. One of the most important is “What is the composition of the elusive “dark matter” that accounts for most of the mass of the cosmos?” This question may be answered by “listening in” to a large collection of very quiet atoms at the core of extremely sensitive radiation detectors installed deep underground. In this quiet environment we may be sensitive to the collisions of dark matter particles with ordinary atoms, and hence infer their mass and other properties. I will describe how these searches are progressing, summarising results from our world-leading LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment, and describe how the UK might play an even bigger role in this quest in the future.
TALK 3: Antimatter matters
Tara Shears, Professor of Physics, University of Liverpool
Antimatter, an identical, oppositely charged version of normal matter, is one of the most mysterious and important substances in the Universe. We think half the universe was made of antimatter at the time of the Big Bang, but very little survives today. Exactly why and how that could have happened is one of the biggest questions in physics. Our attempt to find an answer has driven us to construct complicated experiments deep underground and out in space. In this talk I'll explain what antimatter is, how it fits into our understanding of particle physics, and why we think it matters so much. I'll introduce experiments at CERN, the European laboratory for particle physics, and on the International Space Station, that we've built to study and understand it better, and show you our latest results.
TALK 4: Beyond the Standard Model - a maths-driven journey to the unknown
Maria Ubiali, Particle phenomenologist, University of Cambridge
Our current understanding of the elementary building blocks of Nature, encapsulated by the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics, is one of the most successful theory constructions of the past century, yet it is necessarily incomplete. Several experimental observations, such as the presence of Dark Matter and the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe, are currently unexplained by our model. In my talk I will discuss how the uncharted territory beyond the Standard Model can be explored and how Maths can be a precious compass to guide us in the fascinating quest for the unknown.
TALK 5: Unveiling the elusive dance of neutrinos
Linda Cremonesi, UKRI Future Leader Fellow and Reader, Queen Mary University of London
Imagine tiny, ghostly particles darting through the cosmos, morphing from one identity to another in a cosmic ballet. This isn't science fiction, but the mesmerising reality of neutrino oscillations, a quantum phenomenon that has revolutionised our understanding of the universe. For decades, these elusive subatomic particles, barely interacting with matter, puzzled scientists. The fewer neutrinos detected from the sun than expected hinted at something beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. The answer? Neutrinos, it turned out, weren't simply shy; they were shapeshifters.
TALK 6: The ATLAS experiment
Kate Shaw, Experimental particle physicist, CERN
Who should attend?
This masterclass is designed for everyone who wants to learn about the standard model of particle physics, and why it’s only the beginning.
- Become an expert in one day
- Informal set-up, meet like minded people
- Open your mind, be inspired
- Unique chance to ask your burning questions to our experts
NEW FOR 2024 / 2025: INSTANT EXPERT SERIES TICKET
Our programme of Instant Expert events from November 2024 to April 2025 includes six fascinating topics to satisfy your scientific curiosity.
From uncovering the strange world of quantum mechanics, unlocking the secrets of the subatomic universe, delving into the mysteries of the human mind or learning how to live a longer, healthier live, our Instant Expert event series will help you better understand the world around you and keep you up-to-date on the latest, most exciting, scientific research out there.
PLUS, you can make big savings by booking early and signing up for one of our strictly limited multi-event series tickets.
Your series ticket includes access to the following six Instant Expert events, all taking place at the Congress Centre in London.
Instant Expert: Quantum mechanics and the future of physics
Saturday 9th November 2024, 10am - 5pm
Become an expert in the weird and wonderful world of quantum mechanics
Instant Expert: Uncovering the mind’s mysteries
Saturday 7th December 2024, 10am - 5pm
Discover more about the neural underpinnings of thought and communication
Instant Expert: Inside the subatomic universe
Saturday 18th January 2025, 10am - 5pm
Find out everything we know about the subatomic universe
Instant Expert: How to live a long, healthy life
Saturday 8th February 2025, 10am - 5pm
Discover if science has the answers to a longer, healthier life
Instant Expert: Cosmology at the cutting-edge
Saturday 15th March 2025, 10am - 5pm
Join cosmology experts as they reveal the latest research about our universe
Instant Expert: Consciousness and the mind-body connection
Saturday 26th April 2024, 10am - 5pm
Find out how our minds and bodies are inextricably linked
What's included in your ticket:
In-depth and engaging talks from six leading scientists at each event.
Ask-an-expert Question Time session
Your chance to meet our six speakers and New Scientist host
Exclusive on-the-day New Scientist subscription deal, book and merchandise offers
Booking information:
All events will be held at the Congress Centre, 28 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LS
Doors will open at 9:15am, with talks commencing at 10am sharp. The event will finish at 5pm.
We require the name of each person attending - please ensure this is provided at the time of booking. If you need to change the name of an attendee, please notify us as soon as possible: live@newscientist.com
Eventbrite will email you your ticket(s) immediately after purchase. Please remember to bring your ticket(s) with you as you'll need it to gain entry. We can scan tickets from a print out, or off the screen of a phone / tablet / smartwatch.
The schedule / exact running order for the day will be confirmed closer to the event, and will be emailed to all ticket holders.
Lunch will not be provided at this event. Visitors are welcome to bring their own food, or purchase lunch at one of the many establishments in the surrounding area.
Should you require details about disabled access, please contact us at: live@newscientist.com
Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.
New Scientist reserves the right to alter the event and its line-up, or cancel the event. In the unlikely event of cancellation, all tickets will be fully refunded. New Scientist Ltd will not be liable for any additional expenses incurred by ticket holders in relation to the event.
Tickets are subject to availability and are only available in advance through Eventbrite.