Inquiry: Frank Close: Antimatter

Antimatter has long captured the public’s imagination. It has been used to fuel starships in Star Trek or as a terrorist’s bomb in the book and film of Angels and Demons as well as numerous other sci-fi stories and movies. But does antimatter really exist? The exciting answer is: it does, but typically very briefly. Tonight on Inquiry we speak with FRANK CLOSE, OBE, professor of Physics at Oxford University and a Fellow of Exeter College. Professor Close talks about what we know about positrons, anti-protons and even anti Hydrogen and how scientists at CERN have been using antimatter to unravel the conditions that existed in the universe a billionth of a second after the Big Bang. This is “big science” the reality of which is more is amazing and thrilling than all the stories and movies. Professor Close’s book is titled ANTIMATTER.