Are Axions Dark Matter?

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What does the strong nuclear force, the fundamental symmetries of nature, and a laundry detergent have in common? They’re all important parts of the tale of the axion - a tale whose end may take us beyond the standard model and solve one of the most vexing mysteries in astrophysics.

Hosted by Matt O'Dowd
Written by Matt O'Dowd & Graeme Gossel
Graphics by Leonardo Scholzer & Adriano Leal
Post Production: Yago Ballarini, Max Willians, Pedro Osinski
Directed by: Andrew Kornhaber
Executive Producers: Eric Brown & Andrew Kornhaber

The story of the axion is a classic physics tale: intrepid scientists delve deep into trackless mathematics in search of answers to a mystery. And there, against all expectations, they find the hint of a completely new and unexpected denizen of the natural world. In this case the mystery was a subtle inconsistency in the behavior of the fundamental forces. And the unexpected discovery? A brand new particle - the axion - which, while not proven to exist, may explain a much more famous conundrum. The axion may explain dark matter.

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[betacenturion]

Hello PBS Space Time. I'm finishing up my REU with the Axion Dark Matter eXperiment (ADMX) with the University of Washington, and I just wanted to thank you for presenting axion physics in such a clear way. I was aware of the strong CP problem during the whole internship, but since I was focused on studying microwave cavities I never got the chance to learn more about it. This video helped me sound like a boss at the end of my presentation, and of course, the video was awesome regardless of the context it has to me. Just wanted to say thanks for helping me out.

[lukesyrios]

I remember always thinking the Axion was one of the cooler names of all the theoretical particles. Kind of a let down that its named after detergent. Maybe we can get a Tide Pod particle next

[keithkeller]

"If you're gonna nerd, why not nerd all the way?" Love it.

[FullModernAlchemist]

Matt. You are to physics what Bob Ross is to painting. You make me amazed and profoundly calm at the same time.

[LukeDupin]

It's refreshing to find a channel that's willing to talk about complex subjects without "pulling any punches". No simplified metaphors.

[Blubb]

I’ve heard some of the words he said before.

[Rasecz]

I love episodes that explain how modern experiments are pushing the limits of the standard model

[qwerty_and_azerty]

“If you’re gonna nerd, why not nerd all the way?” This is the deepest insight any of the infinite version of me have ever gotten from PBS Spacetime video. Nicely done!

[sebastianelytron]

Read the title as "Are Axioms Dark Matter?"

Based on how much I understood about them in advanced calculus, they might as well be.

[ThePunkPatriot]

This video, my level of understanding kept oscillating between feeling like I am starting to get it, to feeling like you are speaking Klingon.

[RiverGriffith]

I read the title of this at first as "Is Dark Matter Anxious?" and I'm not sure what to do with that question

[Southpaw]

"If you're gonna nerd, why not nerd all the way?" is a challenge that I'm sure will never be regretted.

[gamerkaue]

"This particle can explain dark matter"

Yeah, I've heard this enough times to know where this is going...

[mainlandempirerecords]

I love this show. I started watching in 2018, and I haven't stopped since. Thank for you incredibly high value content.

[TKSSLCHN]

> "What do you do professionally?"
"I study laundry detergent."
> "So you work for a soap company or?..."
"I'm astrophysicist."

[pharmdiddy]

Laundry detergent, dark matter, the biggest mystery in the universe... My missing sock is actually turned into dark matter by laundry detergent! I knew it!

[Gengsta]

can we somehow give this man an oscar or an grammy or an nobel prize or anything like that becouse he clearly deserves it

[MP-wgpd]

"Ten to the power of ten to the power of ten to the power..." I feel like I live in Whoville.

[lereff]

I get the feeling the editor messed up the framerate of the recordings for this episode...

[Motorfirez]

I used to watch these videos and then, frustrated for not being able to understand, go to the pub . Now I 've thought better and I go to the pub BEFORE watching the videos and suddenly they are crystal clear .