
good evening my name is Antonia Ragland um
um
um theoretical physicist and I’m here
theoretical physicist and I’m here
theoretical physicist and I’m here tonight to tell all of you how
tonight to tell all of you how
tonight to tell all of you how successful physicists are in describing
successful physicists are in describing
successful physicists are in describing everything ranging from the size of
everything ranging from the size of
everything ranging from the size of elementary particle up to the size of
elementary particle up to the size of
elementary particle up to the size of the entire universe or maybe I’m gonna
the entire universe or maybe I’m gonna
the entire universe or maybe I’m gonna tell you what we just don’t understand
tell you what we just don’t understand
tell you what we just don’t understand ok let’s start tonight I’m gonna tell
ok let’s start tonight I’m gonna tell
ok let’s start tonight I’m gonna tell you about just two of the most beautiful
you about just two of the most beautiful
you about just two of the most beautiful theories physicists have created the
theories physicists have created the
theories physicists have created the last one is the standard model it
last one is the standard model it
last one is the standard model it describe the interaction of every single
describe the interaction of every single
describe the interaction of every single elementary particle and their
elementary particle and their
elementary particle and their interactions is it electromagnetics like
interactions is it electromagnetics like
interactions is it electromagnetics like Latrese it you’re the light that comes
Latrese it you’re the light that comes
Latrese it you’re the light that comes from the Sun weak the force responsible
from the Sun weak the force responsible
from the Sun weak the force responsible for radioactive decay or force that is
for radioactive decay or force that is
for radioactive decay or force that is strong the force that keeps together
strong the force that keeps together
strong the force that keeps together nuclear matter or in the other case I
nuclear matter or in the other case I
nuclear matter or in the other case I will tell you about the masterpiece of
will tell you about the masterpiece of
will tell you about the masterpiece of Albert Einstein general relativity the
Albert Einstein general relativity the
Albert Einstein general relativity the theory that tells our energy and matter
theory that tells our energy and matter
theory that tells our energy and matter act on space and time banding them to
act on space and time banding them to
act on space and time banding them to give rise to gravity these two are two
give rise to gravity these two are two
give rise to gravity these two are two terrible predictive theories they are
terrible predictive theories they are
terrible predictive theories they are capable of making prediction out of
capable of making prediction out of
capable of making prediction out of measurement as precise as ten million of
measurement as precise as ten million of
measurement as precise as ten million of millions in precision imagine you make a
millions in precision imagine you make a
millions in precision imagine you make a measurement and then you can predict
measurement and then you can predict
measurement and then you can predict this measurement for 13 digits of
this measurement for 13 digits of
this measurement for 13 digits of precision is impressive yet I’m a
precision is impressive yet I’m a
precision is impressive yet I’m a physicist and as such and as my
physicist and as such and as my
physicist and as such and as my community dollars we go around to look
community dollars we go around to look
community dollars we go around to look for pitfalls in our theories so we’ll be
for pitfalls in our theories so we’ll be
for pitfalls in our theories so we’ll be thus paramount and in order to study the
thus paramount and in order to study the
thus paramount and in order to study the first of these theories we built the LHC
first of these theories we built the LHC
first of these theories we built the LHC is the most gigantic experiment ever
is the most gigantic experiment ever
is the most gigantic experiment ever built on earth it’s a ring just a ring
built on earth it’s a ring just a ring
built on earth it’s a ring just a ring 27 kilometers
27 kilometers
27 kilometers buried hundred-meter under the ground
buried hundred-meter under the ground
buried hundred-meter under the ground LHC is in Geneva and what it does it
LHC is in Geneva and what it does it
LHC is in Geneva and what it does it just accelerate a bunch of protons up to
just accelerate a bunch of protons up to
just accelerate a bunch of protons up to a speed at ISA 99.999999 1% speed of
a speed at ISA 99.999999 1% speed of
a speed at ISA 99.999999 1% speed of light and he makes it collide against
light and he makes it collide against
light and he makes it collide against another bunch of proton that is rotating
another bunch of proton that is rotating
another bunch of proton that is rotating in the opposite direction like this and
in the opposite direction like this and
in the opposite direction like this and we just look for the outcome of this
we just look for the outcome of this
we just look for the outcome of this collision you may think of this as
collision you may think of this as
collision you may think of this as taking two car as much in time together
taking two car as much in time together
taking two car as much in time together and then going around and looking for
and then going around and looking for
and then going around and looking for the outcome
the outcome
the outcome oh this is a wheel ok walks more relaxed
oh this is a wheel ok walks more relaxed
oh this is a wheel ok walks more relaxed like oh it doesn’t work too well there
like oh it doesn’t work too well there
like oh it doesn’t work too well there is something strange of particle physics
is something strange of particle physics
is something strange of particle physics we know very well that when we collide
we know very well that when we collide
we know very well that when we collide two particles it may happen that you end
two particles it may happen that you end
two particles it may happen that you end up with a third particle that is
up with a third particle that is
up with a third particle that is actually heavier than the two original
actually heavier than the two original
actually heavier than the two original particles and no one here hopes that you
particles and no one here hopes that you
particles and no one here hopes that you takes two voxel car you smash them
takes two voxel car you smash them
takes two voxel car you smash them together and you get two Ferrari ok it
together and you get two Ferrari ok it
together and you get two Ferrari ok it works like that for particle physics so
works like that for particle physics so
works like that for particle physics so we switch on the LHC and we start one
we switch on the LHC and we start one
we switch on the LHC and we start one out of the other to find all known
out of the other to find all known
out of the other to find all known particles up to the last one and the
particles up to the last one and the
particles up to the last one and the entire physics community is super
entire physics community is super
entire physics community is super excited yeah every time we find a
excited yeah every time we find a
excited yeah every time we find a particle we are super excited knowing
particle we are super excited knowing
particle we are super excited knowing this one is special is the Higgs boson
this one is special is the Higgs boson
this one is special is the Higgs boson you may have heard of it as when he was
you may have heard of it as when he was
you may have heard of it as when he was discovered in 2012 it had a great huge
discovered in 2012 it had a great huge
discovered in 2012 it had a great huge really media coverage the special
really media coverage the special
really media coverage the special property of the Higgs is that it emits a
property of the Higgs is that it emits a
property of the Higgs is that it emits a field
field
field what’s a field we all have an experience
what’s a field we all have an experience
what’s a field we all have an experience of a field whenever you take a magnet
of a field whenever you take a magnet
of a field whenever you take a magnet and a piece of metal you will feel that
and a piece of metal you will feel that
and a piece of metal you will feel that the magnet and piece of metal are
the magnet and piece of metal are
the magnet and piece of metal are attracting each other this is the result
attracting each other this is the result
attracting each other this is the result of the magnetic field
of the magnetic field
of the magnetic field well the Higgs field is something
well the Higgs field is something
well the Higgs field is something similar with major difference is that
similar with major difference is that
similar with major difference is that the Higgs field
the Higgs field
the Higgs field percolates the entire universe and it’s
percolates the entire universe and it’s
percolates the entire universe and it’s just by mean of the interaction with the
just by mean of the interaction with the
just by mean of the interaction with the higgs field that every single elementary
higgs field that every single elementary
higgs field that every single elementary particle get mass hard to imagine no
particle get mass hard to imagine no
particle get mass hard to imagine no wait it’s easy think of the higgs field
wait it’s easy think of the higgs field
wait it’s easy think of the higgs field as a gigantic pond of trickle the more
as a gigantic pond of trickle the more
as a gigantic pond of trickle the more you interact with the trickle the
you interact with the trickle the
you interact with the trickle the heavier you are the less you interact
heavier you are the less you interact
heavier you are the less you interact with a trickle the lighter you are so
with a trickle the lighter you are so
with a trickle the lighter you are so you may understand that as this Higgs
you may understand that as this Higgs
you may understand that as this Higgs field is at the basis of the mass of the
field is at the basis of the mass of the
field is at the basis of the mass of the entire set of elementary particle we
entire set of elementary particle we
entire set of elementary particle we really need it is the cornerstone of our
really need it is the cornerstone of our
really need it is the cornerstone of our building at the standard model it was
building at the standard model it was
building at the standard model it was predicted and we needed it to build the
predicted and we needed it to build the
predicted and we needed it to build the standard model so in the end when we
standard model so in the end when we
standard model so in the end when we found it we were very excited but as
found it we were very excited but as
found it we were very excited but as soon as we found it in our mathematical
soon as we found it in our mathematical
soon as we found it in our mathematical understanding we already knew that there
understanding we already knew that there
understanding we already knew that there was something wrong indeed the Higgs
was something wrong indeed the Higgs
was something wrong indeed the Higgs field in our opinion is either on or off
field in our opinion is either on or off
field in our opinion is either on or off and when I mean off I mean zero nothing
and when I mean off I mean zero nothing
and when I mean off I mean zero nothing now no way and when I mean on is
now no way and when I mean on is
now no way and when I mean on is terribly on and instead we measured it
terribly on and instead we measured it
terribly on and instead we measured it what we discovered that the Higgs field
what we discovered that the Higgs field
what we discovered that the Higgs field is an either or nor off it’s actually
is an either or nor off it’s actually
is an either or nor off it’s actually you know this switch that cannot switch
you know this switch that cannot switch
you know this switch that cannot switch off properly it’s a bit broken sweetie
off properly it’s a bit broken sweetie
off properly it’s a bit broken sweetie honest with you this is a what luck
honest with you this is a what luck
honest with you this is a what luck since should the Higgs field ever had
since should the Higgs field ever had
since should the Higgs field ever had the value that is in any way different
the value that is in any way different
the value that is in any way different from its actual value all the known
from its actual value all the known
from its actual value all the known matter would collapse in point-like
matter would collapse in point-like
matter would collapse in point-like objects hmm not too bad for someone who
objects hmm not too bad for someone who
objects hmm not too bad for someone who started saying we do understand
started saying we do understand
started saying we do understand everything okay maybe I should have been
everything okay maybe I should have been
everything okay maybe I should have been more humble and say we’re very good in
more humble and say we’re very good in
more humble and say we’re very good in particle physics and but we don’t know
particle physics and but we don’t know
particle physics and but we don’t know where the mass come from and the energy
where the mass come from and the energy
where the mass come from and the energy of the particle and their origin mmm
of the particle and their origin mmm
of the particle and their origin mmm wait that’s just the first of the open
wait that’s just the first of the open
wait that’s just the first of the open question of tonight maybe it’s gonna get
question of tonight maybe it’s gonna get
question of tonight maybe it’s gonna get worse I spoke about two theories and the
worse I spoke about two theories and the
worse I spoke about two theories and the second theory is the theory of
second theory is the theory of
second theory is the theory of relativity Albert Einstein and when I
relativity Albert Einstein and when I
relativity Albert Einstein and when I speak about relativity I think about the
speak about relativity I think about the
speak about relativity I think about the gravity saw interaction of planets stars
gravity saw interaction of planets stars
gravity saw interaction of planets stars galaxies clusters
galaxies clusters
galaxies clusters and what do you do as aspera meant is
and what do you do as aspera meant is
and what do you do as aspera meant is just you take a picture of the sky in
just you take a picture of the sky in
just you take a picture of the sky in all the possible different
all the possible different
all the possible different electromagnetic ranges but it’s just the
electromagnetic ranges but it’s just the
electromagnetic ranges but it’s just the picture of the sky this is for example
picture of the sky this is for example
picture of the sky this is for example the gaia telescope and what we do is we
the gaia telescope and what we do is we
the gaia telescope and what we do is we just take this picture and we classify
just take this picture and we classify
just take this picture and we classify our findings this is a galaxy this is a
our findings this is a galaxy this is a
our findings this is a galaxy this is a star and you may end up finding
star and you may end up finding
star and you may end up finding something like this beautiful isn’t it
something like this beautiful isn’t it
something like this beautiful isn’t it it’s a rotating galaxy it’s an object
it’s a rotating galaxy it’s an object
it’s a rotating galaxy it’s an object that contains something between 1
that contains something between 1
that contains something between 1 million and 1 billion of stars and that
million and 1 billion of stars and that
million and 1 billion of stars and that is a scale you cannot distinguish what
is a scale you cannot distinguish what
is a scale you cannot distinguish what the solar system is and what is
the solar system is and what is
the solar system is and what is interesting of this object is that it
interesting of this object is that it
interesting of this object is that it rotates around its axis and out of
rotates around its axis and out of
rotates around its axis and out of everyday experience we would expect that
everyday experience we would expect that
everyday experience we would expect that as the vast majority of mass is in the
as the vast majority of mass is in the
as the vast majority of mass is in the middle the speed of rotation of the
middle the speed of rotation of the
middle the speed of rotation of the middle should be higher than the speed
middle should be higher than the speed
middle should be higher than the speed of rotation of the object that are
of rotation of the object that are
of rotation of the object that are further out let me give you as usual an
further out let me give you as usual an
further out let me give you as usual an example think of a cappuccino ok you
example think of a cappuccino ok you
example think of a cappuccino ok you look at the foam and you start to stir
look at the foam and you start to stir
look at the foam and you start to stir it with your teaspoon the foam in the
it with your teaspoon the foam in the
it with your teaspoon the foam in the middle we spin faster than the foam
middle we spin faster than the foam
middle we spin faster than the foam closer to the border okay it has to work
closer to the border okay it has to work
closer to the border okay it has to work like that more or less so we went there
like that more or less so we went there
like that more or less so we went there and we measure it and what we found was
and we measure it and what we found was
and we measure it and what we found was a surprise yeah what we found was that
a surprise yeah what we found was that
a surprise yeah what we found was that the speed of rotation is the same in the
the speed of rotation is the same in the
the speed of rotation is the same in the middle and out no wait this is wrong we
middle and out no wait this is wrong we
middle and out no wait this is wrong we can’t understand it it is so wrong that
can’t understand it it is so wrong that
can’t understand it it is so wrong that we have to imagine that there is
we have to imagine that there is
we have to imagine that there is something hidden in that picture that
something hidden in that picture that
something hidden in that picture that I’m not seeing there must be something
I’m not seeing there must be something
I’m not seeing there must be something else in this picture but I can’t see it
else in this picture but I can’t see it
else in this picture but I can’t see it so I call it the dark weight whenever a
so I call it the dark weight whenever a
so I call it the dark weight whenever a physicist tells you dark it mostly mean
physicist tells you dark it mostly mean
physicist tells you dark it mostly mean we don’t understand it
we don’t understand it
we don’t understand it ok so dark no we don’t understand it
ok so dark no we don’t understand it
ok so dark no we don’t understand it good anyway let’s assume that there is
good anyway let’s assume that there is
good anyway let’s assume that there is something dark and is interacting
something dark and is interacting
something dark and is interacting gravitationally so
gravitationally so
gravitationally so Dark Matter let’s count how much that
Dark Matter let’s count how much that
Dark Matter let’s count how much that matter do I need in order for the galaxy
matter do I need in order for the galaxy
matter do I need in order for the galaxy to spin to rotate properly okay very
to spin to rotate properly okay very
to spin to rotate properly okay very good I can do the calculation and scale
good I can do the calculation and scale
good I can do the calculation and scale it up to the size of the entire universe
it up to the size of the entire universe
it up to the size of the entire universe is that oh my god
is that oh my god
is that oh my god bright matter the matter that we know
bright matter the matter that we know
bright matter the matter that we know that they have described it so far with
that they have described it so far with
that they have described it so far with my beautiful theories is just 15 percent
my beautiful theories is just 15 percent
my beautiful theories is just 15 percent of the balance of mass of the entire
of the balance of mass of the entire
of the balance of mass of the entire universe I need a chance to explain the
universe I need a chance to explain the
universe I need a chance to explain the rotating structure and 85% of dark
rotating structure and 85% of dark
rotating structure and 85% of dark matter not too bad
matter not too bad
matter not too bad we do understand everything I said the
we do understand everything I said the
we do understand everything I said the three open question okay
three open question okay
three open question okay a third point that I want to tell you
a third point that I want to tell you
a third point that I want to tell you about is that what we believe and what
about is that what we believe and what
about is that what we believe and what we have actually measured very precisely
we have actually measured very precisely
we have actually measured very precisely is that our universe is expanding if I
is that our universe is expanding if I
is that our universe is expanding if I measure and if I look at every other
measure and if I look at every other
measure and if I look at every other point and object that is around me I
point and object that is around me I
point and object that is around me I will see it going away how do I
will see it going away how do I
will see it going away how do I understand that well in our opinion what
understand that well in our opinion what
understand that well in our opinion what it happen is that more or less 14
it happen is that more or less 14
it happen is that more or less 14 billions of years ago everything all the
billions of years ago everything all the
billions of years ago everything all the structure was collapse in a single point
structure was collapse in a single point
structure was collapse in a single point in space and time and then a fluctuation
in space and time and then a fluctuation
in space and time and then a fluctuation an explosion gave rise to all the known
an explosion gave rise to all the known
an explosion gave rise to all the known structure starting from a small blob of
structure starting from a small blob of
structure starting from a small blob of very energetic hot and dense plasma that
very energetic hot and dense plasma that
very energetic hot and dense plasma that then eventually fly out of the explosion
then eventually fly out of the explosion
then eventually fly out of the explosion very good it makes sense out of an
very good it makes sense out of an
very good it makes sense out of an explosion you are sitting on a piece of
explosion you are sitting on a piece of
explosion you are sitting on a piece of debris call it earth and you’re looking
debris call it earth and you’re looking
debris call it earth and you’re looking around you and everything is going away
around you and everything is going away
around you and everything is going away fine it works good wait what aspect
fine it works good wait what aspect
fine it works good wait what aspect should that be the case is that all
should that be the case is that all
should that be the case is that all these bits and pieces are interacting
these bits and pieces are interacting
these bits and pieces are interacting only gravitationally good but I would
only gravitationally good but I would
only gravitationally good but I would respect that the relative speed with
respect that the relative speed with
respect that the relative speed with respect to every other object I see
respect to every other object I see
respect to every other object I see around should decrease let me give an
around should decrease let me give an
around should decrease let me give an example consider for a moment a stone a
example consider for a moment a stone a
example consider for a moment a stone a pebble from the beach the earth interact
pebble from the beach the earth interact
pebble from the beach the earth interact okay they attract each other
okay they attract each other
okay they attract each other gravitationally and let’s see
gravitationally and let’s see
gravitationally and let’s see imagine an explosion myself taking the
imagine an explosion myself taking the
imagine an explosion myself taking the stone and throwing it India okay what
stone and throwing it India okay what
stone and throwing it India okay what will happen is as soon as the stone
will happen is as soon as the stone
will happen is as soon as the stone leaves my hand the speed of the stone
leaves my hand the speed of the stone
leaves my hand the speed of the stone with respect to the hurt wind decrease
with respect to the hurt wind decrease
with respect to the hurt wind decrease will get slower and slower and
will get slower and slower and
will get slower and slower and eventually we stop and fall to the
eventually we stop and fall to the
eventually we stop and fall to the ground but this is only due to the fact
ground but this is only due to the fact
ground but this is only due to the fact that I’m not strong enough to throw the
that I’m not strong enough to throw the
that I’m not strong enough to throw the stone out of the influence of the
stone out of the influence of the
stone out of the influence of the gravitational field of the earth should
gravitational field of the earth should
gravitational field of the earth should have been strong enough the stone the
have been strong enough the stone the
have been strong enough the stone the earth yet I would expect that the
earth yet I would expect that the
earth yet I would expect that the relative speed of the stone with earth
relative speed of the stone with earth
relative speed of the stone with earth should decrease with time okay this is
should decrease with time okay this is
should decrease with time okay this is our expectation and then we can go and
our expectation and then we can go and
our expectation and then we can go and measure it and we can measure the speed
measure it and we can measure the speed
measure it and we can measure the speed of the expansion of the universe one
of the expansion of the universe one
of the expansion of the universe one billion of years ago and the speed of an
billion of years ago and the speed of an
billion of years ago and the speed of an expansion of the universe today and what
expansion of the universe today and what
expansion of the universe today and what we discover is that the speed of this
we discover is that the speed of this
we discover is that the speed of this function of the universe one be smaller
function of the universe one be smaller
function of the universe one be smaller than today wait smaller the universe is
than today wait smaller the universe is
than today wait smaller the universe is accelerating what’s going on I mean in
accelerating what’s going on I mean in
accelerating what’s going on I mean in order for something to be accelerating
order for something to be accelerating
order for something to be accelerating in an Ongina
in an Ongina
in an Ongina a propellor something that pulls out you
a propellor something that pulls out you
a propellor something that pulls out you from the interaction with the other
from the interaction with the other
from the interaction with the other bodies now it can be I don’t understand
bodies now it can be I don’t understand
bodies now it can be I don’t understand it okay I call it dark and that’s it but
it okay I call it dark and that’s it but
it okay I call it dark and that’s it but is a fueling this explosion so I call it
is a fueling this explosion so I call it
is a fueling this explosion so I call it dark energy very good
dark energy very good
dark energy very good terrible so he can go back to the
terrible so he can go back to the
terrible so he can go back to the drawing board I’m a physicist and they
drawing board I’m a physicist and they
drawing board I’m a physicist and they can evaluate how much dark energy do I
can evaluate how much dark energy do I
can evaluate how much dark energy do I need in such a way that the universe
need in such a way that the universe
need in such a way that the universe could expand the rate at which is
could expand the rate at which is
could expand the rate at which is responding and then I need to compare it
responding and then I need to compare it
responding and then I need to compare it with something and thanks again to
with something and thanks again to
with something and thanks again to Albert Einstein using the famous
Albert Einstein using the famous
Albert Einstein using the famous relation e equal MC square I can compare
relation e equal MC square I can compare
relation e equal MC square I can compare energy with mass so let me compare
energy with mass so let me compare
energy with mass so let me compare energy with let’s say the mass of the
energy with let’s say the mass of the
energy with let’s say the mass of the universe something comparable
universe something comparable
universe something comparable okay and what I discover is that in the
okay and what I discover is that in the
okay and what I discover is that in the balance of mass and energy of the entire
balance of mass and energy of the entire
balance of mass and energy of the entire universe what we know nowadays is the
universe what we know nowadays is the
universe what we know nowadays is the bright matter just 5% the dark matter
bright matter just 5% the dark matter
bright matter just 5% the dark matter the object that I need for the universe
the object that I need for the universe
the object that I need for the universe to rotate properly is 27% and what I
to rotate properly is 27% and what I
to rotate properly is 27% and what I need to let the universe accelerate
need to let the universe accelerate
need to let the universe accelerate properly dark energy is 68% now my talk
properly dark energy is 68% now my talk
properly dark energy is 68% now my talk and here as I clearly don’t have any
and here as I clearly don’t have any
and here as I clearly don’t have any answer for these three open question the
answer for these three open question the
answer for these three open question the origin of mass for the particles the
origin of mass for the particles the
origin of mass for the particles the nature of dark matter and the possible
nature of dark matter and the possible
nature of dark matter and the possible explanation for dark energy there are
explanation for dark energy there are
explanation for dark energy there are candidates theory candidates that could
candidates theory candidates that could
candidates theory candidates that could explain the origin of the mass there are
explain the origin of the mass there are
explain the origin of the mass there are possible matter candidates for the dark
possible matter candidates for the dark
possible matter candidates for the dark matter and there are possible
matter and there are possible
matter and there are possible explanation for the structure of dark
explanation for the structure of dark
explanation for the structure of dark energy but these are just theories that
energy but these are just theories that
energy but these are just theories that needs to be validated and maybe that’s
needs to be validated and maybe that’s
needs to be validated and maybe that’s the reason why it’s great to be a
the reason why it’s great to be a
the reason why it’s great to be a physicist today thank you very much
physicist today thank you very much
physicist today thank you very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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