The search for the sterile neutrino

Cartoon of three balls in different shades of pink popping out of doors marked for the three different kinds of neutrinos: tau, muon and electron. To the right of them, three tiny scientists in white lab coats on scaffolding.

The search for the sterile neutrino

Back when it was theorized, scientists weren’t sure they would ever detect the neutrino. Now scientists, including some at Fermilab, are searching for a version of the particle that could be even more elusive.

Blackfoot translation of Einstein Theory spotlights shameful past

From the Patch Across America, Aug. 13, 2021: LIGO communications specialist Corey Gray translated gravitational wave astronomy to speakers of the indigenous Blackfoot language with the help of his mother. The story recounts his journey connecting the Blackfoot language to gravitational wave astronomy and details on his virtual event with Fermilab on Aug. 20.

Casten, Underwood highlight infrastructure bill’s environmental positives

From The Daily Herald, August 11, 2021: Two US Representatives and the White House National Climate Advisor toured Fermilab and Argonne this week to promote the economic and environmental benefits of President Biden’s proposed infrastructure plan that passed a U.S. Senate hurdle earlier that day.

The silhouette of Africa cut out in white against a black background of equations

A collective strategy for physics in Africa

For the first time, African physicists and other researchers are creating a grassroots strategy for the future of physics research and education.

Talented early career researchers join Queen Mary on STFC-funded fellowships

From Queen Mary University of London, April 26, 2021: Fermilab scientist Dr. Kirsty Duffy was awarded the Ernest Rutherford Fellowship from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) to establish a new research group working on MicroBooNE at Queen Mary University of London. Duffy will continue to host the Even Bananas video series which explores neutrinos until the end of the year.

Muon and meson B: these two particles that shake up physics

From Sciences et Avenir (France), August 6, 2021: Two recent physics experiments, Muon g-2 and the LHCb, have upset the whole physics of matter possibly finding new forces. Fermilab’s Muon g-2 experiment measured the muon’s magnetic moment confirming the Brookhaven result that revealed it didn’t match the theory.

How particle detectors capture matter’s hidden, beautiful reality

From Science News Online, August 5, 2021: Science writer Emily Conover explores the fascinating world of neutrino detectors that make the invisible world of particles visible. Read more about how neutrino detectors have evolved with insights Fermilab’s Jennifer Raaf and Sam Zeller.

Rendering of a large gray sphere with four multi-colored spheres inside labeled u, d, s̄ and c̄, respectively.

LHCb discovers longest-lived exotic matter yet

The newly discovered tetraquark provides a unique window into the interactions of the particles that make up atoms.

Department of Energy to provide $100 million for high energy physics research

From DOE.gov, August 2, 2021: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a plan to provide $100 million over the next four years for new research in high energy physics. Funding will support research and experiments that explore the frontiers of high energy physics. This includes Fermilab’s Muon g-2 experiment which aims to search for signs of physics beyond the standard model, scientists’ current best theory to describe the most basic building blocks of the universe.

An illustration of T-shirts that look like metal rock tees with logos resembling Metallica's, Iron Maiden's, and so on, except the text reads MACHOs, axions, WIMPS and so on.

Drumming up dark photons

A group of scientists is hoping to detect dark matter using a nanoscale drum.

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