Making tiny things go extremely fast is a monument to human enquiry and creativity
Sure, particle accelerators are sprawling, expensive technology that allow scientists unprecedented insight into the nature of matter, but how do they actually work? In this stylishly animated introduction to particle accelerators, the University of Oxford research scientist Suzie Sheehy details the basics of accelerator physics, including how not all accelerators are created equal, and why successfully launching a new accelerator is an occasion more than worthy of a champagne toast.
Video by The Royal Institution
Animator: Andrew Khosravani
video
Music
A riveting audiovisual dive into what makes sounds harmonious, or not
28 minutes
video
Medicine
Drinking wine from toxic cups was the 17th century’s own dubious ‘detox’ treatment
11 minutes
video
Engineering
How water-based clocks revolutionised the way we measure time
10 minutes
video
History of science
How we came to know the size of the Universe – and what mysteries remain
26 minutes
video
Engineering
Building a prosperous future demands bold ideas. These are some of the boldest
40 minutes
video
Environmental history
In Kazakhstan, ‘atomic lakes’ still scar the landscape decades after Soviet nuclear tests
13 minutes
video
Oceans and water
A stunning visualisation explores the intricate circulatory system of our oceans
5 minutes
video
Architecture
A 3D rendering of the Colosseum captures its architectural genius and symbolic power
17 minutes
video
History of science
Ideas ‘of pure genius’ – how astronomers have measured the Universe across history
29 minutes