The Unsolved Mysteries of Particle Physics

Despite the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012, the Standard Model of Particle Physics leaves many questions unanswered. Researchers, supported by the Department of Energy, are exploring the Large Hadron Collider in search of answers.

Share:

matière noire et l'énergie sombre

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

The Standard Model of Particle Physics has long been regarded as the cornerstone of our understanding of the universe. With the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012, it seemed that this model was complete, explaining the main elements of matter and three of the four fundamental forces.

The Challenges of the Large Hadron Collider

However, a number of enigmas remain. Dark matter and dark energy, which make up a large part of the universe, remain elusive for the Standard Model. This is where physicists come in, supported by the Department of Energy (DOE), to explore the frontiers of knowledge.

In Search of New Horizons

Nadja Strobbe, a researcher at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, investigates these questions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s most powerful particle gas pedal. It was also at the LHC that the Higgs boson was discovered, marking a major milestone in particle physics.

Supersymmetry: An Expansion Theory

The LHC, a 17-mile ring in Switzerland, propels particles at speeds close to the speed of light. When these particles collide at precise points in the ring, they create spectacular phenomena and generate a considerable mass of data. Scientists gather information on the 40 million particle collisions that occur every second the machine is active.

In Search of the “Top Squark

Questions that intrigue researchers include the origin of matter and why different particles have different masses. To answer these questions, Strobbe is looking for a hypothetical particle called a “top squark”. This theoretical particle escapes the limits of the current Standard Model.

Future prospects

The Standard Model already includes 17 different particles, including the quarks that make up protons and neutrons, and the leptons that make up electrons. It also describes the particles that carry three of the four fundamental forces that govern interactions between these basic constituents.

The impact of the LHC on our understanding of the Universe

Even before experimental physicists discovered these particles, theorists had predicted them. In this way, the Standard Model acts like a crossword puzzle, with the theory providing the clues needed to fill in the gaps.

Technological and medical advances

Supersymmetry is one of the theories that could extend physics beyond the Standard Model. It also suggests the existence of “superpartners” for every particle in the Standard Model. Among these particles is the quark top. The “top squark” studied by Strobbe is the hypothetical superpartner of the top quark. Its experimental discovery could help elucidate aspects unexplained by the current Standard Model.

In short, the LHC and the work of researchers like Strobbe are helping to shed light on the foundations of our universe. They also pave the way for future technological advances. The knowledge gained from improved particle gas pedal technologies is having a major impact, particularly in the field of medicine, with advances such as CT scanners and MRIs. The quest to understand the mysteries of particle physics continues at the LHC and in laboratories around the world, opening up new perspectives on the universe around us.

Facing opposition criticism, Monique Barbut asserts that France’s energy sovereignty relies on a strategy combining civil nuclear power and renewable energy.
The European Commission is reviving efforts to abolish daylight saving time, supported by several member states, as the energy savings from the practice are now considered negligible.
Rising responses to UNEP’s satellite alerts trigger measurement, reporting and verification clauses; the European Union sets import milestones, Japan strengthens liquefied natural gas traceability; operators and steelmakers adjust budgets and contracts.
The Finance Committee has adopted an amendment to overhaul electricity pricing by removing the planned redistribution mechanism and capping producers' profit margins.
The European Commission unveils a seven-point action plan aimed at lowering energy costs, targeting energy-intensive industries and households facing persistently high utility bills.
The European Commission plans to keep energy at the heart of its 2026 agenda, with several structural reforms targeting market security, governance and simplification.
The new Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)–Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai) axis combines a nuclear restart, targeted fuel tax cuts and energy subsidies, with immediate effects on prices and risk reallocations for operators. —
German authorities have ruled out market abuse by major power producers during sharp price increases caused by low renewable output in late 2024.
A new International Energy Agency report urges Maputo to accelerate energy investment to ensure universal electricity access and support its emerging industry.
Increased reliance on combined-cycle plants after the April 28 blackout pushed gas use for electricity up by about 37%, bringing total demand to 267.6 TWh and strengthening flows to France.
The United States announces a tariff increase beyond the 10% base rate targeting several Colombian products. Bogotá has recalled its ambassador. The detailed list of tariff lines has not yet been published, while Colombia’s ban on coal exports to Israel remains in effect.
The president-elect outlines a pro-market agenda: gradual reform of fuel subsidies, review of Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB) lithium contracts, and monetization of gas transit between Argentina and Brazil, prioritizing supply stabilization.
A three-year partnership has been signed between Senegal and two Quebec-based companies to develop the country’s geoscientific capacity and structure its energy sector through technological innovation.
The South African government plans 105,000 MW of additional capacity by 2039 to redefine its energy mix, support industrialisation, and strengthen supply security.
The Dutch government is initiating legislative reform to extend the Borssele nuclear plant until 2054 and has formalised the creation of a public entity to develop two new reactors.
The United Kingdom unveils a structured plan to double clean energy jobs, backed by over £50 billion ($61.04bn) in private investment and the creation of new training centres across industrial regions.
Vice President Kashim Shettima stated that Nigeria will need to invest more than $23bn to connect populations still without electricity, as part of a long-term energy objective.
Talks on the Net-Zero Framework, which seeks to regulate greenhouse gas pricing on marine fuels, have been postponed until 2026 following a majority vote initiated by Saudi Arabia.
Liberty Energy warns about the impact of import duties on drilling and power equipment, pointing to a potential obstacle to federal goals related to artificial intelligence and energy independence.
Enedis will progressively reorganise off-peak hour time slots from 1 November, impacting 14.5 million customers by 2027, under new rules set by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.