The Matter of Everything: An Accelerator Physicist on the Experiments that Unlocked Matter and Ushered in the Modern World

In the pursuit of understanding our world — and the matter of which it is made — the discipline of physics has been instrumental. Driving this pursuit are groundbreaking experiments: Experiments to measure the mass of a particle a trillion times smaller than a grain of sand. Experiments to capture the movement of particles that have traveled billions of miles through deep space to our atmosphere. Experiments that seek, ultimately, to understand why measurements of matter, well, matter.

In “The Matter of Everything,” accelerator physicist Dr. Suzie Sheehy introduces us to the experiments and scientists that unlocked the nature of matter and changed the course of history. From the serendipitous discovery of X-rays to the scientists trying to prove Einstein wrong, to the race to split the atom, these scientists and their experiments shaped our understanding of the cosmos and how we live within it. Their breakthroughs helped us map the insides of volcanoes, develop life-saving medical equipment, and create electronic devices used in everything from fiber-optic cables to solar panels.

Three attendees will win a free copy of Sheehy’s new book, also titled The Matter of Everything, in which she demystifies how physics is done and celebrates human ingenuity, creativity, and, above all, curiosity.

Headshot by Alise Black.

Bio

Dr. Suzie Sheehy is a physicist, science communicator, and academic who divides her time between research groups at the University of Oxford and University of Melbourne. Her research addresses both curiosity-driven and applied areas and is currently focused on developing new particle accelerators for applications in medicine.

An award-winning public speaker, presenter, and science communicator, Suzie is dedicated to sharing science beyond the academic community. Her 2018 TED talk has been viewed over 1.8M times and she has been an expert presenter for a number of Discovery Channel shows, including four seasons of Impossible Engineering. In her talks and shows, Sheehy has brought real-life demonstrations and experiments to hundreds of thousands of audience members. The Matter of Everything is her first book.