Introduction and Personal Perspective

• Speaker uses 3D glasses analogy - removing glasses makes picture blurry, different perspectives can make things clearer
• Has cerebral palsy, uses computerized voice for TED Talk
• Chose to embrace "dodgy female British synthesized voice" with humor rather than see it as barrier
• Announces 96% of universe is missing/unknown

Speaker's Background and Research Focus

• Particle physicist analyzing Large Hadron Collider (LHC) data at CERN, Switzerland
• Self-described "archetypal geeky kid" passionate about science lab work
• Focuses on Standard Model - describes properties/behavior of all known particles
• Considers Standard Model one of greatest scientific achievements of last century
• Standard Model gave speaker passion to focus on physics studies

Overcoming Physical Limitations in Scientific Work

• Cannot pick up/use laboratory equipment due to disability
• Had to "borrow someone else's hands" - gave detailed instructions to assistants
• Practiced giving extremely clear instructions for experiments
• Approach helped develop mindset for performing well in practicals
• Current research involves writing code to analyze LHC data
• Dictates code to assistants (typing would be too slow/effortful)
• Speaking work rather than writing requires different mindset

The Standard Model's Limitations

• Standard Model only describes 4% of universe
• Missing components discovered through galaxy rotation speeds
• Newton's laws show galaxies would fly apart without additional massive substance

Dark Matter

• Missing mass called "dark matter"
• Accounts for 23% of universe
• Keeps galaxies from flying apart

Dark Energy

• Universe expansion accelerating (not decelerating due to gravity)
• Points to force acting against gravity
• Called "dark energy"
• Accounts for remaining 73% of universe

The Missing 96%

• Neither dark matter nor dark energy included in Standard Model
• 96% of universe completely unknown
• Standard Model not as all-encompassing as initially thought

Detection Methodology

• Cannot design detectors to directly photograph elusive particles
• Missing particles won't interact with detectors
• Use detectable particles to "spy on" hidden particles
• Similar to speaker using assistant's hands for experiments

Large Hadron Collider Operations

• Accelerates particles to near light speed
• Particles smash together releasing enormous energy
• Uses protons from atoms (including human bodies)
• Head-on collisions create fundamentally different particles
• Analogy: smashing two apples to create pile of cherries
• Sophisticated detectors identify known particle types only

Energy Conservation Detection Method

• Fundamental law: energy cannot be created/destroyed, only transferred
• Energy before collision = energy after collision
• Know proton energy entering collision
• Measure energy of particles coming out
• If energies not identical, "alarm bells ring"
• Missing energy could indicate:
  • Conservation of energy principle incorrect, OR
  • Energy stolen by particles that elude detectors

Current Research Status

• Have not found missing particles yet
• Speaker sees this as exciting time for fundamental physics
• Much left to discover

Personal Philosophy and Broader Applications

• Being open to different perspectives meaningful on personal scale
• Encourages seeking positive in each person/situation
• Helps bring out potential in self and others
• Mindset helped speaker reach current position
• Suggests embracing new thinking and being open to different perspectives
• Could discover new solutions to current problems