Editor's note: The "why particle physics matters" contest ended at 5pm Central on Sept. 3. Thanks to everyone who voted! Symmetry will announce the winner on Tuesday, Sept. 10. As you await the results, we encourage you to check out all the explanations on symmetry's YouTube channel.
If you’ve voted for one of the five scientists whose explanations made it into symmetry’s “Why particle physics matters” contest, you’ll know that particle physics benefits humanity by seeking answers to big questions about where we come from and where we’re going.
You’ll know that equipping young people with the knowledge and skills that come with a degree in particle physics benefits many parts of society, and you'll know that technology developed for particle physics research can be applied in other areas of life.
But many more than just the five scientists in the contest heeded symmetry’s call to explain why particle physics matters. See a sampling of some of the answers you might have missed in the video below, and watch their full responses on symmetry’s YouTube channel.