
The universe is believed to have been created by a hot dense explosion, otherwise known as the "Big Bang." In this instant of creation, the laws of physics predict an even split between matter and antimatter. However, we live in a world mostly made up of matter. If equal quantities of matter and antimatter did exist, they would have annihilated each other, thus leading to a universe consisting of pure energy (which it doesn't, because we're here). So, the question becomes, why was there so much matter left over?
Scientists at Brookhaven National Lab are attempting to explain this observed lack of antimatter, through a process called CP violation. This violation states that some "particle decays" aren't equal when antiparticles are switched for the original. In other words, 0=-1+1 isn't always the same as 0=1-1. The KOPIO experiment is designed to measure a very rare Kaon decay that will hopefully explain the asymmetry between matter and antimatter by means of CP violation.
Sit back and learn more about the KOPIO
experiment
Test your speed, skills, reaction time, and
overall wits in the KOPIO game
Wanna learn more?
Go to the KOPIO web site
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