Matter and Subatomic Particles

The origins of matter

Matter as we know it appears in the first instants of the Universe, emerging from the cosmic darkness. To understand this birth, we must go back to times when space, time and energy were intimately linked, and where fundamental particles formed in an extremely dense and hot environment.

An opaque Universe in its early days

Between 0 and 380,000 years after the Big Bang, the Universe is so dense that light cannot escape: photons and matter are in permanent interaction. It is only after this period that light decouples from matter, giving rise to the cosmic microwave background radiation we observe today. Exploring this era requires understanding the infinitely small and the laws governing subatomic particles.

Exploring the invisible with particle accelerators

To probe these extreme conditions, scientists use instruments like the Large Hadron Collider (CERN). By recreating energies close to those of the early Universe, they seek to reveal the particles and fundamental interactions that nature still hides from us. These experiments allow us to approach the origins of matter and refine our understanding of the forces that structure the cosmos.

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