Friday Flyer - March 30, 2018

Spotlight on the University of Oregon QuarkNet Center

The University of Oregon Center for High Energy Physics hosted its 16th summer workshop for teachers in June of 2017. Last summer's workshop focused on a variety of topics, including a talk on the 2017 eclipse and an update on LIGO from mentor Ray Frey. Teachers also heard from a variety of UO faculty about the LHC, statistics and psychology in science, and on resources from the UO STEM CORE program. Participants toured the university's ant lab, where they got to learn about the physics and culture of leaf-cutter ant colonies. Teachers had a chance to exchange curricular and project ideas with each other as well during the popular teacher-led "Cool Projects" segment of the workshop.

News from QuarkNet Central

Just two reminders this week for mentors and lead teachers: Please be sure to complete the 2018 RFP form using the link that Ken or Shane e-mailed to you, and please submit any nominations you have for this summer's Data Camp if you have not already done so. Any questions, contact Ken or Shane.

Physics Experiment Roundup

The LHC is back up and running as of today, as protons circulate in the 27-km ring for the first time in 2018. Symmetry pays a visit to the LHC's control room on this restart day. Find out how the LHC stays one of the coldest places on the planet. Also from CERN: Experiment sees hints of a rare kaon decay. On the neutrino front: Learn the secret behind measuring an anitneutrino's energy, and the question that involves a reaction that takes eight octillion years to happen!

Resources

Learn about the accelerators at both Fermilab and CERN with these ~two-minute animations. What does particle physics have to do with art? Find out where particle detectors meet canvas. And lastly, dark matter MIA: Learn about the galaxy that should have 300 times more dark matter than normal matter.  

Just for Fun

Help determine the champion in the Subatomic Smackdown! Today is the day you can watch the blow-by-blow on Twitter at #SubatomicSmackdown. Participate in the Twitter poll hosted by @NationalMagLab to vote.

QuarkNet Staff:
Mark Adams: adams@fnal.gov
Ken Cecire: kcecire@nd.edu
Deborah Roudebush: droudebush@cox.net
Jeremy Smith: jsmith10@bcps.org
Shane Wood: swood5@nd.edu