from the editor
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| Photo: Reidar Hahn, Fermilab |
From technology to dance
Symmetry often discusses the connections between particle physics and other parts of science, nature, and culture. This issue shows how broadly particle physics pervades other aspects of life.
The primary justification for doing particle physics is the science itself; but along with its discoveries we see the development of many technologies crucial for advancing other areas of science. Superconducting radio-frequency acceleration technology is one key example. Designed for high-energy particle collider experiments, it has uses in X-ray sources, medical accelerators, and myriad other accelerator applications.
In this issue of symmetry we start a new series about applications of accelerators with the story of how they’re being used to implant silver ions into carbon heart valves to try to make them more biologically compatible. It’s just one instance in which accelerators are playing significant roles in science, technology and industry.
On October 26, a symposium on “Accelerators for America’s Future” will take place in Washington, DC, with sessions addressing medicine and biology, energy and environment, national security, industrial applications and production, and scientific discovery. We’ll bring you coverage of that meeting online at symmetrymagazine.org.
As examples of the interplay between particle physics and culture, we feature in this issue several stories on physics in Manga, the primarily Japanese form of comics. A leading Manga artist, Takuya Uruno, drew our cover; Youhei Morita from KEK in Japan writes about the influence of Manga in his life and education; and we show a gallery of Uruno’s Manga drawings, commissioned by KEK to help communicate particle physics to different audiences.
A very different form of science communication is being explored by well-known choreographer Liz Lerman. Members of her dance troupe visited the European particle physics laboratory CERN to develop a performance, attracting curious onlookers as the dancers explored the unusual physical space of the Large Hadron Collider and its surroundings. Lerman speaks with symmetry about her collaboration with physicist Gordy Kane, how she learned about the science at CERN, and how she began to find new ways to express those concepts within her field of expertise.
Particle physics is done for the sake of scientific
discovery, but the field shows its value to
society not only through its discoveries but also
through the wide-ranging connections to other
human endeavors. It’s a dynamic and vibrant set
of connections that benefits everybody involved.
David Harris, Editor-in-chief
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Manga artist Takuya Uruno, whose work is featured in the gallery, designed this issue’s cover based on an edutainment Web series he created for KEK. It incorporates, from top, a superconducting radio-frequency cavity; string theory; and a Van de Graaff generator, whose static electricity fluffs up the hair of the girl in the middle.
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