TO ASK What the devil is ANTI-MATTER? Its all over the radio just now.

[GabbyLoggon]

I take an interest in science; but dont have great knowledge. People are coming on BBC Radio 4 to explain ANTI MATTER and I am none the wiser.

I gather it is connected to the BIG BANG theory of creation.

Agreed Sardine! runs off to file nails and ponder exactly how many quarks make up a sub atomic particle DARN breaks nail

It would appear you are not so out of date Sardine - you must be a man :o

OK, v quick google - CERN have made and trapped antimatter atoms.

Technically difficult; but not suprising that the stuff can be made (given that there is antimatter transiently existing in medical equipment). The reason for wanting to do this is to try to figure out why we live in a universe with a vast preponderance of matter. That's an interesting question which we don't know the answer to so scientists are trying to find out - the physicists at CERN (who aren't all male, I think) are experts in asking and answering questions.

AntiMatter is the employment scheme that guarantees the next 10 years of funding for Physicists worldwide :)

"CERN have made and trapped antimatter atoms"

But don't worry gabby. They used humane traps and they will be released into the wild after they have been studied in a non-intrusive way.

Reciprocal space? Are/were you a crystallographer, Sardines? An area of science particularly rich in women, for some reason.

I think that lady brains can be trained though. I recently read a couple of books that were recommended on here about Infinity and the Multiverse. I struggled a bit at times - head too full of fluff and kittens I suspect - but I got there! And my dad who worked in the Nuclear industry all his life and is a Very Clever Chap didn't finish them! So I have hope we will be able to understand simple scientific concepts over the next few centuries if we work really really hard.

LOL Ormirian.

OP you are right in that anti-matter is connected to the big bang theory. In the first fraction of the first second, after the big bang started (when all matter was created) matter and anti-matter was created in roughly equal parts. Fortunately for us, there was slightly more matter than there was anti-matter created and this "extra" matter, is all the matter you see in the universe today.

CERN will hopefully provide us with many more answers. The woman there, are doing incredible work :D

grimma no just a bog-standard physics degree and it's something I remember well. Mainly because the chap who lectured us was a cartoon scientist - all mad hair and a total inability to communicate

nuttychic

YABU

It doesn't matter.

(Clue's in the name)

Gabby are you seriously saying you don't think women are intelligent enough to become scientists?! jaw-drop!

He didn't really say that - just implied assumption that 'expert' scientists are male.

You could infer from his post that he'd trust a female scientist more

What grimma said. I don't think it had crossed his mind that physicists could be female.I'm sure if asked he would realise that actually, they probably can be

I have not siad females could not be scientissts Males hogged the system histotically. I suspect that is the broad truth of the matter (not aunty mattert)

Let me google that for you