External

Next week, scientists with connections to U.S. particle physics will make their morning coffee, boot up their computers and log in to a virtual community planning meeting with over 1,500 colleagues. The four-day gathering will set the stage for a process known as Snowmass, during which scientists will develop a collective vision for the next decade of U.S. particle physics research. The Snowmass process seeks to identify the most promising questions to explore in future research.

From University of Chicago, Sept. 24, 2020: In his new role, de Pablo — currently the Vice President for National Laboratories — will help drive and support the university’s science, technology and innovation efforts, along with their connection to policy and industry. He will also help shape emerging strategic scientific and technological initiatives and provide oversight of entrepreneurship and innovation activities at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Extremely massive fundamental particles could exist, but they would seriously mess with our understanding of quantum mechanics.

From Argonne National Laboratory, Sept. 28, 2020: A research team from four national laboratories, including Fermilab and Argonne, have undertaken work at two Fermilab neutrino experiments — MiniBooNE and NOvA — to construct a model of how neutrinos interact with atomic nuclei. This knowledge is essential to unravel an even bigger mystery: why during their journey through space or matter neutrinos magically morph from one into another of three possible types or flavors.

From La Repubblica, Sept. 27, 2020: Intervista alla scienzata di origine marsalese che dirige il Fermilab – Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.

From CERN Courier, Sept. 23, 2020: Fermilab scientist Panagiotis Spentzouris, head of the Fermilab Quantum Science Program, is one of several experts featured in this article on CERN alumni who have ventured into diverse careers in different fields.

From Physics World, Sept. 23, 2020: The Proton Improvement Plan-II linear accelerator is an essential upgrade to the accelerator complex at Fermilab. The project is being led by PIP-II Project Director Lia Merminga, who talks to Physics World about this international effort to keep Fermilab at the forefront of particle physics.

From Loma Linda University Health News, Sept. 17, 2020: The James M. Slater, MD, Proton Treatment & Research Center at Loma Linda University Cancer Center is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Slater began working Fermilab in 1986 to plan the proton synchrotron and center, which resulted in the construction of one of the most complex pieces of medical equipment ever built.

From Wired, Sept. 22, 2020: After repurposing facial recognition technology to study galaxies and the Higgs boson, physicists think they can help shape the responsible use of AI. Fermilab scientist Brian Nord talks about how these technologies advance fundamental science and the ethical implications of their use.

Handedness — and the related concept of chirality — are double-sided ways of understanding how matter breaks symmetries. Different-handed object pairs reveal some puzzling asymmetries in the way our universe works.