The Discovery of Antimatter Found Year: 1928
Discoverer: Paul Dirac
Place: Collisions between cosmic rays
In 1928, physicist Paul Dirac proposed the existence of antimatter, a groundbreaking hypothesis that has since sparked extensive research into this extraordinary material. Antimatter consists of particles that are counterparts to those of regular matter, possessing opposite charges and properties.
Remarkably, antimatter is considered the most expensive material on Earth, valued at approximately $2,700 trillion per gram. This staggering cost highlights the challenges associated with its production and storage, making it a subject of fascination in both scientific and popular contexts.
The Scarcity of Antimatter in Space Source: NASA/MSFC/Wikimedia
Antimatter is exceedingly rare in the universe today, as virtually none of it remains in space. When matter and antimatter encounter each other, they annihilate, resulting in the release of pure energy. This annihilation process occurs naturally, albeit infrequently, during collisions with cosmic rays in space.
Scientists are not only focused on understanding the properties of antimatter but are also intrigued by its mysterious scarcity. The question of why so little antimatter exists in the universe compared to matter remains a significant puzzle in modern physics.
