Latest news with #FutureCircularCollider
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
An Entire Hidden Layer of Reality May Be Lurking Just Below the Standard Model of Physics
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Although CERN's Large Hadron Collider has made a lasting impact on particle physics, it hasn't yet open up a whole new frontier of particle physics like some scientists expected. One scientist champions a theory that new physics could be hiding in what he calls the 'zeptouniverse'—the realm of objects on the scale of the zeptometer (which is 1 quintillionth of a meter)—and that the best way to explore that universe is through observing kaon and B meson decays. Future colliders will likely be able to directly observe the zeptouniverse, but for now, studying these decays could help us find new physics within the decade. We humans have gotten pretty good at glimpsing the invisible. The Large Hadron Collider—our premier instrument for exploring the subatomic—can thoroughly explore the world of the attometer, which is (incredibly) just one-quintillionth of a meter. Famously, the LHC confirmed the existence of the Higgs boson in 2012, and physicists prepared for a rush of new particles to explain lingering mysteries of the universe like the existence of dark matter and matter-antimatter asymmetry. But that explosion of discovery didn't really materialize. That's certainly not to say nothing has happened since then, but no major revelations on par with the Higgs have been discovered since. And now, a new article in New Scientist, written by particle physicist Harry Cliff who works on the LHCb experiment, details one theory as to why we haven't found what we were expecting to find. At its most basic, many of these revelations could be hiding in what's sometimes referred to as the 'zeptouniverse,' which is a world that only exists at the 10-21-meter scale. The LHC can only analyze particles directly down to 50 zeptometers, but Cliff highlights a theory—largely championed by Technical University of Munich theoretical physicist Andrzej Buras—that these elusive particles could simply be beyond LHC's detection capabilities. Of course, a better detector could open up this frontier—CERN completed a feasibility study for the Future Circular Collider (FCC) just earlier this year. But Buras believes that we can explore this frontier of new physics indirectly without the need to wait the several decades required to finally probe this question (the FCC won't perform high-energy physics until 2070). In 2020, Buras explored this question in an article for Physik Journal, writing: Can we reach the Zeptouniverse, i.e., a resolution as high as 10–21m or energies as large as 200 TeV, by means of quark flavour physics and lepton flavour violating processes in this decade well before this will be possible by means of any collider built in this century? In a paper uploaded to the preprint server arXiv last year, Buras identified seven possible targets for this investigation, which he dubbed the 'magnificent seven,' according to New Scientist. All seven are extremely rare decays of particles containing strange and bottom quarks, which Cliff calls 'echoes from the zeptouniverse.' Luckily for Buras, some experiments are already searching for these ultra-rare decays. One example of such a decay starts with the B meson—a kind of composite particle made of different quarks, as Cliff explains. In 2023, the Belle II experiment in Japan captured this decay in action, producing another particle called a kaon (or K meson) and two neutrinos. However, because the experiment wasn't set-up to directly detect neutrinos, information about them is limited. This isn't the only ultra-rare decay that's been detected recently, either. In September of 2024, the NA62 experiment at CERN recorded the decay of a positively charged kaon into a pion and a matter-antimatter pair. It's thought that less than one in 10 billion kaons should decay in this way. Because this interaction is sensitive to Standard Model deviations, it's identified as one of the prime targets for finding new physics. Today, the KOTO experiment in Japan is searching for a second confirmation of this kaon decay. 'The search for new particles and forces beyond those of the Standard Model is strongly motivated by the need to explain dark matter, the huge range of particle masses from the tiny neutrino to the massive top quark, and the asymmetry between matter and antimatter that is responsible for our very existence,' Buras wrote last year in the trade magazine CERN Courier. 'As direct searches at the LHC have not yet provided any clue as to what these new particles and forces might be, indirect searches are growing in importance.' Scientists are only beginning to peer inside the unknown frontier of the zeptouniverse, and until next-generation colliders are up and running, these extremely rare decays are our only windows into that universe. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life? Solve the daily Crossword
Canada Standard
30-05-2025
- Science
- Canada Standard
Canada signs statement of intent with CERN to strengthen scientific collaboration
Government of Canada partners with world's leading physics research organization to advance scientific discovery May 30, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario Science and research have the power to solve the world's greatest challenges, drive innovation and economic growth, and unravel fundamental questions about life itself. That is why the Government of Canada is supporting international scientific collaboration and investing in research that pushes the boundaries of human knowledge. Today, the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Economic Development Canada for Quebec Regions, announced that Canada has signed a statement of intent with the European Organization for Nuclear Research, also known as CERN, to strengthen collaboration on future planning for large research infrastructure facilities, and on novel and advanced techniques and tools. The statement of intent was signed in April by Canada's Deputy Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Philip Jennings, and CERN's Director-General, Fabiola Gianotti. CERN is a world-leading research facility in Geneva, Switzerland, focused on fundamental physics, with a mission to uncover what the universe is made of and how it works. Canada contributes to CERN's work through advanced equipment, scientific expertise and top talent, with TRIUMF-Canada's particle accelerator centre-serving as the primary bridge for these efforts. The statement of intent ensures Canada will continue to be a world leader in physics, contributing to and advancing research on fundamental questions about the mysteries of the universe. By signing the statement of intent, Canada and CERN signalled their intent to enhance collaboration in planning future projects to foster breakthrough scientific discoveries. This includes ongoing studies on the Future Circular Collider (FCC), CERN's next flagship project. This proposed higher-performance particle collider would eventually replace CERN's Large Hadron Collider, the world's most powerful particle accelerator, which is helping scientists study the basic building blocks of the universe. Should the FCC be selected to move forward, Canada intends to collaborate on its construction and the physics experiments that will take place at the research facility, subject to appropriate domestic approvals. Canada and CERN also intend to promote joint efforts in developing advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and quantum technologies, and their use in particle physics research and beyond. Through this partnership, Canada is advancing human understanding of our universe and ensuring Canadian researchers and scientists are leading the way.
Cision Canada
30-05-2025
- Science
- Cision Canada
Canada signs statement of intent with CERN to strengthen scientific collaboration Français
Government of Canada partners with world's leading physics research organization to advance scientific discovery OTTAWA, ON, May 30, 2025 /CNW/ - Science and research have the power to solve the world's greatest challenges, drive innovation and economic growth, and unravel fundamental questions about life itself. That is why the Government of Canada is supporting international scientific collaboration and investing in research that pushes the boundaries of human knowledge. Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Economic Development Canada for Quebec Regions, announced that Canada has signed a statement of intent with the European Organization for Nuclear Research, also known as CERN, to strengthen collaboration on future planning for large research infrastructure facilities, and on novel and advanced techniques and tools. The statement of intent was signed in April by Canada's Deputy Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Philip Jennings, and CERN's Director-General, Fabiola Gianotti. CERN is a world-leading research facility in Geneva, Switzerland, focused on fundamental physics, with a mission to uncover what the universe is made of and how it works. Canada contributes to CERN's work through advanced equipment, scientific expertise and top talent, with TRIUMF—Canada's particle accelerator centre—serving as the primary bridge for these efforts. The statement of intent ensures Canada will continue to be a world leader in physics, contributing to and advancing research on fundamental questions about the mysteries of the universe. By signing the statement of intent, Canada and CERN signalled their intent to enhance collaboration in planning future projects to foster breakthrough scientific discoveries. This includes ongoing studies on the Future Circular Collider (FCC), CERN's next flagship project. This proposed higher-performance particle collider would eventually replace CERN's Large Hadron Collider, the world's most powerful particle accelerator, which is helping scientists study the basic building blocks of the universe. Should the FCC be selected to move forward, Canada intends to collaborate on its construction and the physics experiments that will take place at the research facility, subject to appropriate domestic approvals. Canada and CERN also intend to promote joint efforts in developing advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and quantum technologies, and their use in particle physics research and beyond. Through this partnership, Canada is advancing human understanding of our universe and ensuring Canadian researchers and scientists are leading the way. Quotes "Canada's scientific community has long been at the forefront of particle physics research. This collaboration with CERN will further diversify our international partnerships and strengthen Canada's position as a global leader in science and innovation. By working with the world's leading physics research facility, the government is creating opportunities for Canadian researchers to contribute to groundbreaking discoveries that will advance our understanding of the universe and drive technological innovation." – The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions "Global scientific endeavours like CERN and the Large Hadron Collider are major drivers of technological progress and have positive impacts on our world. Through TRIUMF's international connections, Canadian researchers are tackling emerging global issues, improving health outcomes and driving innovations that benefit all. With this statement of intent, Canada is showing its support for TRIUMF and the country's national major research facilities, and for the academic and industrial research communities they support." – Nigel Smith, Executive Director and CEO of TRIUMF Quick facts Budget 2024 provided more than $399 million over five years to TRIUMF to operate and upgrade infrastructure for its particle accelerator complex, which delivers and expands a diverse program of science that spans accelerator science, particle and nuclear physics, life sciences, innovation and technology transfer, and more. TRIUMF is fulfilling Canada's international commitments for new accelerator components and operation as part of the high-luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. TRIUMF also has an international cooperation agreement with CERN that gives researchers access to CERN's facilities and provides opportunities for collaboration. Including the funding for TRIUMF, Budget 2024 provided investments of $734 million in modern, high-quality research facilities and infrastructure to help solve real-world problems, create economic opportunities and attract and train the next generation of scientific talent. Since 2016, the government has invested over $22 billion in Canadian science and research initiatives, including infrastructure and emerging talent, as well as other science and technology support measures. Associated links Stay connected Find more services and information on the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada website. Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Canada signs statement of intent with CERN to strengthen scientific collaboration
Government of Canada partners with world's leading physics research organization to advance scientific discovery OTTAWA, ON, May 30, 2025 /CNW/ - Science and research have the power to solve the world's greatest challenges, drive innovation and economic growth, and unravel fundamental questions about life itself. That is why the Government of Canada is supporting international scientific collaboration and investing in research that pushes the boundaries of human knowledge. Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Economic Development Canada for Quebec Regions, announced that Canada has signed a statement of intent with the European Organization for Nuclear Research, also known as CERN, to strengthen collaboration on future planning for large research infrastructure facilities, and on novel and advanced techniques and tools. The statement of intent was signed in April by Canada's Deputy Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Philip Jennings, and CERN's Director-General, Fabiola Gianotti. CERN is a world-leading research facility in Geneva, Switzerland, focused on fundamental physics, with a mission to uncover what the universe is made of and how it works. Canada contributes to CERN's work through advanced equipment, scientific expertise and top talent, with TRIUMF—Canada's particle accelerator centre—serving as the primary bridge for these efforts. The statement of intent ensures Canada will continue to be a world leader in physics, contributing to and advancing research on fundamental questions about the mysteries of the universe. By signing the statement of intent, Canada and CERN signalled their intent to enhance collaboration in planning future projects to foster breakthrough scientific discoveries. This includes ongoing studies on the Future Circular Collider (FCC), CERN's next flagship project. This proposed higher-performance particle collider would eventually replace CERN's Large Hadron Collider, the world's most powerful particle accelerator, which is helping scientists study the basic building blocks of the universe. Should the FCC be selected to move forward, Canada intends to collaborate on its construction and the physics experiments that will take place at the research facility, subject to appropriate domestic approvals. Canada and CERN also intend to promote joint efforts in developing advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and quantum technologies, and their use in particle physics research and beyond. Through this partnership, Canada is advancing human understanding of our universe and ensuring Canadian researchers and scientists are leading the way. Quotes "Canada's scientific community has long been at the forefront of particle physics research. This collaboration with CERN will further diversify our international partnerships and strengthen Canada's position as a global leader in science and innovation. By working with the world's leading physics research facility, the government is creating opportunities for Canadian researchers to contribute to groundbreaking discoveries that will advance our understanding of the universe and drive technological innovation." – The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions "Global scientific endeavours like CERN and the Large Hadron Collider are major drivers of technological progress and have positive impacts on our world. Through TRIUMF's international connections, Canadian researchers are tackling emerging global issues, improving health outcomes and driving innovations that benefit all. With this statement of intent, Canada is showing its support for TRIUMF and the country's national major research facilities, and for the academic and industrial research communities they support." – Nigel Smith, Executive Director and CEO of TRIUMF Quick facts Budget 2024 provided more than $399 million over five years to TRIUMF to operate and upgrade infrastructure for its particle accelerator complex, which delivers and expands a diverse program of science that spans accelerator science, particle and nuclear physics, life sciences, innovation and technology transfer, and more. TRIUMF is fulfilling Canada's international commitments for new accelerator components and operation as part of the high-luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. TRIUMF also has an international cooperation agreement with CERN that gives researchers access to CERN's facilities and provides opportunities for collaboration. Including the funding for TRIUMF, Budget 2024 provided investments of $734 million in modern, high-quality research facilities and infrastructure to help solve real-world problems, create economic opportunities and attract and train the next generation of scientific talent. Since 2016, the government has invested over $22 billion in Canadian science and research initiatives, including infrastructure and emerging talent, as well as other science and technology support measures. Associated links Canada signs Statement of Intent with CERN regarding future major projects CERN signs a joint Statement of Intent with Canada Budget 2024: Fairness for every generation Stay connected Find more services and information on the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada website. Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media. X (Twitter): @ISED_CA | Facebook: Canadian Innovation | Instagram: @cdninnovation | LinkedIn: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada View original content: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Independent
17-04-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Inside multi-billion dollar plan to build new tunnel under the Swiss Alps
& Tessa Charles Scientists have unveiled a 70-year plan to build a massive, 91km tunnel under the Swiss Alps to house the Future Circular Collider (FCC). The FCC, more than three times larger than the current Large Hadron Collider, will collide electrons and positrons in its first stage for precise Higgs boson measurements. The second stage involves colliding protons at much higher energies than the LHC, potentially uncovering new particles and addressing fundamental physics questions like dark matter and the matter-antimatter imbalance. The project's estimated cost is around $18 billion for the first stage, with a significant portion allocated for tunnel construction. While costly, the FCC is expected to yield scientific advancements and technological spin-offs, similar to the LHC's contributions to medical technology and software.
