Seeing Subatomic Particles With the Naked Eye | Earth Science

With some ingenuity, you can see subatomic particles with the naked eye. All you need is a water bottle, some alcohol, dry ice...and a radioactive source.

Professor Brian Cox is going in search of the best of British science. Introducing his science heroes, Brian visits the places where they made their discoveries, recreating their experiments and examining their legacy to their scientific descendants.

Here at BBC Earth Science we answer all your curious questions about science in the world around you. If there’s a question you have that we haven’t yet answered or an experiment you’d like us to try let us know in the comments on any of our videos and it could be answered by one of our Earth Science experts.

[juuonse]

I think that experiment might've been the single most coolest thing I've ever seen in my life!

[vision]

This is one of the finest videos I have ever seen on Youtube!!!!

[thefamousdjx]

Wow such simplicity. I've nver understood any other explanations because everyone out there is trying to sound smart but this has got in covered in less than 4min. Brilliant!

[PleasestopcallingmeDoctorImath]

this guy made me fall in love with cox

[DCYZMX]

If you stare to the sky on a 60 degree angle and adjust your focus... I know I can see tiny blue particles almost looking like blue microscopic sparkles floating around everywhere. Its cool but most people think you're crazy when you tell them.

[funplay]

I had a similar interaction with som particles, I was on my back on the floor outside and as I was looking to the clouds I could see small particles clashing with each other at a rapid paste. I try to focus dead center to see if I could get a foto graphic picture with my brain. But still they was so fast.

[dinonorrie]

you can observe subatomitic particles if you look into a deep blue sky it looks like bright micro lights that dance and are spinning i have seen it for years your eyes can observe the electrosphear 300 volts is a consistant pattern unless there is low pressure it drops to 150 then 75 then 25 then 0 thats the sticky feeling you get before a storm....

[mswriter]

Deep thought . This explains why we as Humans look for a reaction from others and if we are ignored especially as kids, it bothers us, we feel a discomfort as our energy is not received in a loving way (Love must be an noble gas element) and we feel as if we don’t exist without the reaction of another Towards us. A parents energy, given to a kid changes their chemistry or their nucleus .. so i think, a soul needs a chemical reaction with another soul. And that’s why humans turn to an invisible God and then become devoted to this Spirit become when we look to God our chemistry changes as our neutrons collide with Gods hydrogen

[fleaship]

Diana Ross's 'Chain Reaction' popped into my head at the end haha

[noob]

Is this experiment really true? Can believe it. But it is facinating.

[chrisparker]

"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration."

[KikaThorne]

Dear BBC Earth Lab, there seem to be two videos here. One about Ernest Rutherford's experiments, the consciousness of which will incite thought in multiple directions. If you end it at 2:23 we can discuss the phenomenon and process in the cloud chamber without having to focus on how these observations were harnessed. Perhaps the longer version can screen under a new and separate title that refers specifically to uranium, barium and krypton. Beautifully produced.

[loupiscanis]

Thank you for the understanding, Prof Cox,
plz continue .

[magnoliamike]

On a sunny day you can see them floating in the air . But to see them I have to keep my eyes open for longer than 20 seconds then I start to see them

[RatChad]

I can see water particles when it's very close to my eye

[erictjones]

We used a smoke detector as our source and the results were stunning. A Wilson's cloud chamber is a fun project anyone can do at home.

[ApplePotato]

Why does a cloud chamber even work? Arent't subatomic particles too small to interact with the vapor in the chamber.

[williampennjr.]

How did he know what he was seeing was a single particle? since subatomic particles are billions of times smaller than is possible to see with the naked eye.
and how did he know one from another?

[TheAristote]

when I was a child playing outside. I stared at the sun once for a little bit. When I looked away in front of me, I was able to see those. I told my brother and he just looked at me and asked how did I know what they were. I told I had saw it a few days later on a science magazine commercial. 🤷🏾‍♂️ Strange….never was able to do it again.

[Phoosh]

What was the radioactive source in this experiment? Is it safe to buy?