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Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Matter's elusive dark twin: Most expensive substance in the universe
In 1930, theoretical physicist Paul Dirac was trying to reconcile quantum mechanics with Einstein's theory of relativity when his equations hinted at something strange: the existence of a 'mirror' particle identical to the electron, but with opposite charge. Its implications made him uneasy — that every particle has an antiparticle, and that perhaps the whole of nature is constructed in this way. Dirac's calculation wasn't to be a mere mathematical quirk. Two years later, American particle physicist Carl Anderson found the positron, the electron's antimatter twin, in cosmic ray experiments. It was a moment of rare scientific poetry: a particle predicted by pure mathematics, then seen in nature. Antimatter sounds like something from science fiction. And indeed, it has captured the imagination of writers from Star Trek (where it powers warp drives) to Angels and Demons (where it threatens to obliterate Vatican City). But antimatter is very real, though vanishingly rare in our universe. Whenever a particle meets its antiparticle, they annihilate in a flash of energy — converting all their mass, as per Einstein's , into pure light. That property makes antimatter the most energy-dense substance imaginable. A single gram could, in theory, produce as much energy as a nuclear bomb. But if it's so powerful, why don't we use it? And why don't we see it everywhere? Here lies one of the deepest mysteries in cosmology. The Big Bang, as we understand it, should have created equal amounts of matter and antimatter. But for reasons not yet fully known, the early universe tipped the scales ever so slightly toward matter — by just one part in a billion. That tiny excess is what makes up everything we see: stars, galaxies, people, planets. The rest annihilated with its antimatter counterpart in the early universe. Physicists are still trying to understand why the universe has this imbalance. One possibility is that antimatter behaves slightly differently than matter — a tiny asymmetry in how particles decay, known as CP violation. Experiments at CERN and Fermilab are probing these effects, but so far, no definitive explanation has emerged. The reality of antimatter: not just theory Despite its elusiveness, antimatter isn't merely theoretical. We make it — routinely. In fact, hospitals around the world use positrons (antimatter electrons) every day in PET scans. The 'P' in PET stands for 'positron,' and the scan works by injecting a radioactive tracer that emits positrons. When these encounter electrons in the body, they annihilate and emit gamma rays, which are detected to create precise images of tissues. Physicists at CERN's Antimatter Factory even trap anti-hydrogen atoms, composed of an antiproton and a positron, in magnetic fields for a few milliseconds at a time, to study their properties. The dream is to answer a simple but profound question: does antimatter fall down like regular matter, or does it somehow respond differently to gravity? Early experiments suggest it falls the same way, but the precision isn't yet conclusive. Energy source or weapon? Harnessing antimatter sounds like a sci-fi superpower, and indeed, the energy from matter-antimatter annihilation could, in theory, power spacecraft far more efficiently than any rocket we've built. But there's a catch: antimatter is mind-bogglingly expensive. Producing a single gram would cost about $60 trillion using today's particle accelerators. Worse, storing it safely is a nightmare. Let it touch anything, and boom, it annihilates. That hasn't stopped the speculation. NASA has funded studies on antimatter propulsion, suggesting it could one day shorten interstellar travel. But for now, it remains out of reach, a gleaming prize at the edge of possibility. Antimatter in space Cosmic rays from deep space occasionally strike Earth's upper atmosphere, producing short-lived showers of antimatter particles. The International Space Station even carries an instrument called the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, scanning for signs of antimatter nuclei that could hint at entire regions of the universe made of antimatter — a speculative idea, but one not yet ruled out. Neutron stars and black hole jets may also generate antimatter in tiny amounts, adding to the cosmic fireworks. But overall, the universe appears matter-dominated. Why nature chose this option, why there's something instead of nothing, remains among the deepest riddles in physics. Final Reflections In Star Trek, antimatter is a tame servant of human ambition. In reality, it's a fleeting, elusive shadow of the particles we know. Dirac's equations suggested a universe with perfect symmetry, but nature, like a mischievous artist, left a flaw in the mirror. The story of antimatter reminds us that physics isn't just about numbers or formulas. It's about imagination, daring, and a relentless curiosity about the hidden sides of reality. Somewhere in the collision of matter and anti-matter lies a spark — of annihilation, yes, but also of wonder. Shravan Hanasoge is an astrophysicist at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Holy scripts, sacred sets: Pope culture in cinema
Filmmakers continue to turn to the papacy for stories soaked in mystery, power, and profound humanity. Filmmakers continue to turn to the papacy for stories soaked in mystery, power, and profound humanity Filmmakers continue to turn to the papacy for stories soaked in mystery, power, and profound humanity. Filmmakers continue to turn to the papacy for stories soaked in mystery, power, and profound humanity Filmmakers continue to turn to the papacy for stories soaked in mystery, power, and profound humanity. 1 2 All eyes were on Vatican as the conclave commenced on May 7, shrouded in secrecy and mystery. The recently concluded papal election renewed curiosity among cinephiles to get a glimpse of the Vatican's age-old rituals, even if fictional, and Pope Francis , who passed away at 88. The pope wasn't merely the head of the Roman Catholic Church – he was a reformer, a humanist, a cinema lover. He had 10.3 million followers on Instagram, loved Fellini's film La Strada and was once quoted telling the Italian Film Foundation to 'reawaken wonder' in an increasingly artificial world. From the recent Oscar-winning Conclave to Fernando Meirelles' The Two Popes, cinema has often looked to the Vatican not just for drama, but to understand how men of faith wrestle with doubt, politics, and the weight of centuries. And in Pope Francis, they found a character unlike any other – approachable, self-aware, even funny. 'To paint the pope as some sort of Superman is offensive,' said Pope Francis, 'The pope is a man who laughs, cries… A normal person.' VATICAN INTRIGUE IN FILMS For decades, filmmakers' intrigue has gone beyond the Pope himself, delving into the institution of the papacy, which offers a treasure trove of visual symbolism with its exquisite robes, ornate rings, the grandeur of Vatican interiors, and old rituals. We Have A Pope (2011) Nanni Moretti's comedy-drama We Have a Pope humanised the papal figure, asking what might happen if a newly elected Pope didn't want the role. A still from We Have a Pope. I wanted to show the Vatican as I see it and not to make a film denouncing the place Nani Moretti, director of We Have A Pope, said at the Cannes Film Festival in 2011 Angels and Demons (2009) Angels and Demons, directed by Ron Howard, explored the Vatican's secrecy and internal politics, much to the Church's disapproval. On the other end of the spectrum, dark-comedy The Pope Must Die satirised the Church's power structures, depicting a mafia-run Vatican. The poster of Ron Howard's Angels and Demons. Conclave (2024) Ralph Fiennes-starrer Conclave, set in the Vatican, has people craving power. For the film, the makers interviewed real Cardinals and hired a religious adviser, as the director Edward Berger found it 'senseless' to seek help from the Vatican. Conclave is directed by Edward Berger. It could take place in Washington, DC, in Downing Street... a vacant position... and whenever that power vacuum exists, there's going to be people striving for it... and stabbing each other in the back and trying to manipulate their way into power Director Edward Berger told Reuters about the political nature of Conclave The Young Pope (2016) Paolo Sorrentino's satirical TV series took a stylised look at the emotional solitude and peculiar life inside the Vatican. The Shoes of the Fisherman, released in the late 60s, dramatised the secretive process of papal election. In The Young Pope, director Paolo Sorrentino crafts a stylised portrayal of the Vatican. I wanted to explore the loneliness of power, the peculiarities of life in the Vatican and the power of solitude Paolo Sorrentino, director of The Young Pope, told TVDrama The Pope's Exorcist (2023) The film's poster declared, 'Inspired by the actual files of Father Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican.' Director Julius Avery combined realistic moments with fantasy-style horror to create a thrilling experience. A poster of The Pope's Exorcist. Filmmaker Martin Scorsese is producing a documentary titled Aldeas — A New Story, made in collaboration with Pope Francis. The film will chronicle the late pontiff's work with cinema and his role in the global educational movement he founded before his death. Before his passing, Pope Francis described Aldeas as 'an extremely poetic and very constructive project because it goes to the roots of what human life is .' Martin Scorsese is producing a documentary titled Aldeas — A New Story. Films on Pope Francis' life and work The Two Popes (2019) Pope Francis: A Man of His Word (2018) Francesco (2021) The Letter: A Message for Our Earth (2022) In Viaggio: The Travels of Pope Francis (2023) — Compiled by Arushi Jain Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . And don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Al Etihad
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Etihad
Conclave to elect new pope: Wait for Vatican white smoke fires up social media
6 May 2025 08:47 Paris (AFP) Hype has been building on social media around the Catholic Church's secretive, centuries-old tradition of conclaves to elect a new President Donald Trump on Saturday posted an apparently AI-generated image of himself wearing papal vestments and sitting on a throne, one finger directed to the striking picture was the most notorious among thousands that have bubbled up since the death of Pope Francis on April 21 and ahead of the cardinals' gathering from than 1.3 million tweets have been published on X about the conclave, according to monitoring platform Visibrain, while TikTok videos on the topic have been viewed over 363 million times on the network with unparallelled reach among the passionate pope-watchers can fire up online game "Mantapa" to pick their favourite cardinals and make predictions for the next pontiff. Pomp and secrecy The mystery, pomp and ritual around the conclave -- from the opulent Sistine Chapel surroundings to the ethereal black or white smoke signalling ballot results -- "lends itself to the narrative formats of social networks" said Refka Payssan, a researcher in information and communication noted that the conclave fires up the "curiosity of seeing history happen live", marking a rare event -- the first in 12 years -- with potential global consequences. Digital turn Conclave fever is also a reflection of the Vatican's successful turn to digital communications in recent years to build bonds with younger by Benedict XVI in 2012 but mostly used by Francis, the papal X account @pontifex reaches 50 million followers across its nine languages. And Francis's own Instagram account had more than 10 million Church has backed many cardinals' own ventures into the digital realm, with some becoming bona fide internet York prelate Timothy Dolan has been publishing videos about the run-up to the conclave to his almost 300,000 X followers and 55,000 on Instagram -- without giving away any sensitive Philippine cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has made his mark online with karaoke videos, tallying 600,000 Facebook snapshots are in the mix, with Tokyo's archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi posting a photo with colleagues from the bus on the way to pray at Francis's grave. This fascination has been stoked by pop culture blockbusters like Dan Brown's novel "Angels and Demons", adapted for film in 2009, or the acclaimed thriller "Conclave" released this year, based on a book by novelist Robert Harris.
News18
21-04-2025
- Politics
- News18
From ‘Conclave' To ‘Angels and Demons': What Fiction Gets Right And Wrong About The Papal Elections
Last Updated: Centuries-old Vatican rituals resurface after Pope Francis' death with fiction like 'Conclave' and 'Angels and Demons' shaping popular understanding. With the death of Pope Francis, the Vatican's centuries-old rituals will once again take centre stage as the world turns its gaze toward the secretive papal conclave. People across the globe will be looking closely as cardinals from across the world gather in Rome for the Conclave. 138 cardinals out of the current 252 are eligible to vote. The Financial Times in a report called it 'the world's most powerful electorate". As Pope Francis' death triggers the 1,000-year-old ritual behind locked doors and billowing smoke, movies like 2024 Oscar-nominated 'Conclave" and books like Dan Brown's 'Angels and Demons" are bound to resurface in the public's mind. Both works of art have shaped public imagination about how a Pope is chosen. What is a Papal Conclave and How Does It Work? When a Pope dies or resigns, the Vatican initiates a time-honored and secretive process to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church — the papal conclave. Rooted in centuries-old traditions, this process brings together cardinals from across the globe to decide who will take on the mantle of Saint Peter. The conclave takes place in the Sistine Chapel and only cardinals below the age of 80 are eligible to vote. The voting is conducted in secrecy, and a two-thirds majority is needed to elect a new pope. The world watches for the color of the smoke. Black smoke means no decision while white smoke signals a new pope has been chosen. The death of a Pope triggers a series of solemn rituals rooted in centuries of tradition. Black smoke, known as fumata nera, will rise from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel to signal the end of a papacy. The Ring of the Fisherman is taken off, crushed, and burned by the camerlengo who also seals the papal apartment, locks the desk, and disconnects the phone lines. This begins the Sede Vacante or the vacant seat. The Pope's funeral is usually held between the fourth and sixth day followed by a nine-day mourning period. Only after that do the cardinals begin preparations for the next Conclave. The voting still takes place inside the Sistine Chapel though the cardinals now reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, a guesthouse built by John Paul II. Until 2005 they were kept in cramped makeshift rooms with hard beds and chamber pots. Silence is not just sacred but mandatory. Any attempt to communicate with the outside world during the Conclave results in immediate excommunication. Why It Matters The Pope is not just a spiritual figure — he influences geopolitics, interfaith dialogue, and even social movements. The process to elect him is steeped in symbolism and reflects the Church's desire for continuity, unity, and divine guidance. The movie 'Conclave", starring Ralph Fiennes, shows ambitious cardinals scheming and manipulating their way toward the papacy, their secret ballots shadowed by blackmail and betrayal and there is a looming terrorist bomb threat nearly shattering the conclave within Vatican walls. Dan Brown's Angels and Demons features a papal conclave, but it's used more as a dramatic plot device than a faithful representation of the real process, with the action revolving around his signature protagonist, Robert Langdon. Speaking on the Ralph Fiennes-starrer, Susan Hanssen, PhD, associate professor of history at the University of Dallas, told The New York Post: 'It was drenched with banal leftist jargon. It's essentially a form of propaganda to influence the way the papal conclave is perceived at this moment. No one should mistake the Hollywood movie for the 'inside scoop' on historical reality". The most recent papal vacancy occurred in 2013 when Pope Benedict XVI, then 85, became the first pope in 600 years to resign from the position. It took two weeks for Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, to be elected and take the name Francis. 'Two weeks is not a long time by Vatican standards," John Thavis, a papal expert and author of The Vatican Diaries: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Power, Personalities, and Politics at the Heart of the Catholic Church was quoted as saying by the New York Post. 'One reason is that the cardinals are very much aware that the world is watching and waiting. A drawn-out conclave lasting a week or more would inevitably invite speculation about division at the highest levels of the church". The movie and Brown's book got a few things right, like, location, the fact that the process is shrouded in mystery and secrecy and the voting system. The novel shows multiple rounds of balloting, which reflects how conclaves can take time. The movie shows that because papal elections require a two-thirds majority, there's always a possibility of a deadlocked conclave. The novel gave the camerlengo, the character of Carlo Ventresca has enormous influence in the story, far beyond what a real camerlengo would typically exercise. In reality, the camerlengo manages day-to-day Vatican operations between popes but does not oversee or direct the conclave. The conclave in the novel is fast-paced, filled with intrigue, and deeply theatrical — real conclaves are solemn, slow, and deeply ritualistic. First Published:
