In recent years, scientists have found ways to study black holes, listening to the gravitational waves they unleash when they collide and even creating an image of one by combining information from radio telescopes around the world. But our knowledge of black holes remains limited. So scientists are figuring out how to make do with substitutes — analogs to black holes that may hold answers to mysteries about gravity and quantum mechanics.

From SDPB Radio’s “In the Moment: Innovation,” July 26, 2019: In this 7-minute radio piece, Fermilab 2018 artist-in-residence Adam Nadel talks about a musical composition he wrote based on neutrino experiment data. When neutrinos interact with other particles inside an argon detector, those interactions are recorded by thousands of thin wires. Nadel transcribed the wire over time onto a musical score.

Nord and a University of Chicago scientist will apply the tools of artificial intelligence to accelerate discovery by automating the design and execution of cosmic experiments. The grant is part of an initiative to provide seed funding for collaborative projects in AI and quantum science between the university, Fermilab and Argonne National Laboratory.

On July 15 in Ghent, Belgium, the European Physical Society formally presented the CDF and DZero collaborations with the High Energy and Particle Physics Prize “for the discovery of the top quark and the detailed measurement of its properties.”

From SDPB Radio’s “In the Moment: Innovation,” July 26, 2019: In this 18-minute radio piece, Fermilab Director Nigel Lockyer discusses experimental particle physics, the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment and the partnership with the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota.

From Independent, July 27, 2019: A high school student spends his summer working on neutrinos and Fermilab’s NOvA neutrino experiment.

Giaccone’s research focuses on particle accelerator cavities — the structures that transfer energy to particle beams as the beams race through them. She and her team use plasma to process the inner surface of the cavities in order to remove contaminations. This new technique results in a better-performing accelerator. Her work was recently recognized at the International Conference on RF Superconductivity.

The DOE Project Leadership Institute has recognized Lari and her capstone project teammates for for their outstanding case study analysis with the 2018 Capstone Project Award.

The Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility team is in the process of rehabilitating an old mining tunnel in South Dakota for the installation of a conveyor system to transport rock. In June, they reached a milestone when they finished the rebuilding of the portal to the tunnel.

From UChicago News, July 25, 2019: The University of Chicago is seeding promising projects with Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab in the emerging fields of artificial intelligence and quantum science.
Fermilab scientist Brian Nord is one of the grant recipients.