First, chemists and molecular biologists create new particles by taking old particles that we already know of and building composite particles from them.
Second, physicists, such as those at the Large Hadron Collider, can drive particles into one another with varying force, and potentially find a new particle from the underlying quantum fields.
And finally, particles that we already know of, can be put into new environments to see how they might react differently or put themselves together in new ways.
Physicists can then see if new particles emerge based on their collective quantum interaction. For more on discovering weird new particles, including excellent demonstrations using Lego, take a look at this video from Minute Physics.
Originally published by Cosmos as How physicists discover new particles
Cosmos reporter
Read science facts, not fiction...
There’s never been a more important time to explain the facts, cherish evidence-based knowledge and to showcase the latest scientific, technological and engineering breakthroughs. Cosmos is published by The Royal Institution of Australia, a charity dedicated to connecting people with the world of science. Financial contributions, however big or small, help us provide access to trusted science information at a time when the world needs it most. Please support us by making a donation or purchasing a subscription today.
