Seeing the Smallest Thing in the Universe

Beyond molecules and atoms, how far down can we see below the wavelength of visible light? What is the smallest possible scale in the universe?

Frog animation by Matt Burns

Thanks to Kyle Kitzmiller for filming.

Image Credits:
SEM Images: Dartmouth Electron Microscope Facility
Infrared Images: Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech
LHC Images: CERN
Molecule images: IBM
Atom Images: Aneta Stoldona; APS

Music: Michael Miller, Kevin McLeod - "Carefree," YouTube - "On the Bach"

[ibrsp]

She explained so many different complex physics concepts (including string theory) in one video and so beautifully. Amazing.

[SuperRinocicorn]

2:05 I just SAW the electron wave function of a hydrogen atom for the first time...I was speechless for a second ^-^ So beautiful...thank you!!!

[thecroft]

If Physics Girl had been my teacher, I'd have formulated the Theory of Everything by now

[bruceanderson]

I worked at the Stanford Linear Accelerator for a long time, any time I see pics of CERN tunnels, I completely marvel at it's completely beautifully clean organized look...great job, guys.

[DoctorKhullar]

i really like how she is so excited all the time

[brianpso]

Wow, you covered many topics in less than 6 minutes, and yet you managed to get the message across very clearly. You really have talent to teaching this stuff, and that's not taking into account your enthusiasm while doing so, which makes the experience much more enjoyable. Really good!

[drwfigureadventures]

Thank you for using terms such as “in theory” and “as far as we know”! It really helps to clarify things because I often read or watch something on physics and think to myself “surely that’s as far as we know” but they state it as fact or near enough.
Stating that it is as far as we know sounds so simple but is really helpful to understanding where we are in science.

[padengregory]

I genuinely seen the title and thought they found my sole surviving braincell

[progunantilife]

Looks at title, Looks down at pants
"This is your time to shine, Boy"

[Spacedsco]

Higgs Boson is not only the work of Peter Higgs! everybody keeps forgetting that François Englert has also worked on the theoretical discovery. They both got a noble price for it in 2013. Also Robert Brout is commonly forgotten but he died in 2011 and they don't give nobel prices to posthumous. just mentioning because every time I read about Higgs Boson only Peter Higgs is mentioned. btw I'm belgian and proud of our Francois Englert. Talking about great belgian physicist then Ingrid Daubechies is somebody who nobody knows but everybody in the world is using here invention, great mathematician :)

[brucecrane]

Best physics teacher ever. Your illustration and analogies really help us understand the concepts. Your fantastic.

[Hlebuwk]

"is it possible that they have no size?"
*PERHAPS*

[Tundra-ecii]

Cavemen: we smash rocks together to make this new shape of rock which is also pointy.
1970 scientist: we smash particles together to make smaller particles that might be pointy actually we take that back we really don't know what this thing is like.

[ScienceAsylum]

Nice! I was just wondering yesterday when your next video was going to be :-)  I particular loved the big blue ball hitting the frog at 1:50 ...fantastic!

[TheSharungo]

I went to the LHC last year (best day of my life)

[wisanu]

I’m binging Physic Girls. Dear Diana, I wish you recover and back to full health.

[brianpoe]

Today your videos helped my 7 year old with big questions she had about the smallest possible things in the universe! Thank you! 💚🙏

[videogyar]

I like that you used centimeters to describe your height.

[kriijan]

This video is really excellent ! I've always been interested in sciences. That's why I just LOVE your videos !

[CtrlOptDel]

There's an obvious joke here... But I'm too much of a gentleman to make it...