As a physicist working at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at Cern, one of the most frequent questions I am asked is “When are you going to find something?”. Resisting the temptation to sarcastically reply “Aside from the Higgs boson, which won the Nobel Prize, and a whole slew of new composite particles?”, I realise […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
The standard model of particle physics may be broken – an expert explains
A universe without mathematics is beyond the scope of our imagination
Almost 400 years ago, in The Assayer, Galileo wrote: “Philosophy is written in this grand book, the universe … [But the book] is written in the language of mathematics.” He was much more than an astronomer, and this can almost be thought of as the first writing on the scientific method. We do not know who […] … learn more→
What the new science of authenticity says about discovering your true self
After following a white rabbit down a hole in the ground and changing sizes several times, Alice finds herself wondering “Who in the world am I?” This scene, from Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” might resonate with you: In a world that’s constantly changing, it can be challenging to find your authentic self. I […] … learn more→
How to use technology to improve work efficiency, productivity and drive sales in 2022
The last two years have been very difficult for businesses with some SMEs having no option other than to foldup. The restrictions that came with the Covid-19 pandemic meant that businesses could not meet their production and sales targets. This resulted in some going out of business completely. According to a study by the Federal […] … learn more→
The current problems of women in science
Surely, when reading this article, there will be those who think if it is really necessary to dedicate a day to women and girls in science. Is it that our young women do not have the opportunity to choose the professional option they prefer? In fact, myself, when I was studying biology, I thought that the battle […] … learn more→
Why real-time communication is not possible outside of Earth
Human beings communicate with each other in two ways. The first is the same used by other animals: the emission of sound waves. However, these are slow and do not spread more than a few tens of meters due to the attenuation introduced by the air. That is why we have searched since ancient times for alternatives for […] … learn more→
Artificial intelligence can discriminate on the basis of race and gender, and also age
We have accepted the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in complex processes — from health care to our daily use of social media — often without critical investigation, until it is too late. The use of AI is inescapable in our modern society, and it may perpetuate discrimination without its users being aware of any prejudice. […] … learn more→
The metaverse offers a future full of potential – for terrorists and extremists, too
The metaverse is coming. Like all technological innovation, it brings new opportunities and new risks. The metaverse is an immersive virtual reality version of the internet where people can interact with digital objects and digital representations of themselves and others, and can move more or less freely from one virtual environment to another. It can also involve […] … learn more→
How could the Big Bang arise from nothing?
“The last star will slowly cool and fade away. With its passing, the universe will become once more a void, without light or life or meaning.” So warned the physicist Brian Cox in the recent BBC series Universe. The fading of that last star will only be the beginning of an infinitely long, dark epoch. All […] … learn more→
Blue light filters for screens neither care for your eyes nor help you rest
We are continually bombarded with messages that warn that we are making excessive use of screens that directly affects our vision. There are many advertisements that urge us to use filters to block the blue light from these screens before it is too late. “It will improve your rest”, “It will reduce visual fatigue caused by electronic […] … learn more→
