The universe hides its secrets in the gaps between particles

Space · Published 31 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: We can see the stars, but most of the universe remains invisible. To find what is missing, physicists are looking for connections between the Higgs boson and dark matter, exploring radical concepts like warped extra dimensions to explain how matter first formed.

Dr. Investigating 'unseen universe' enigmas, University of Chicago professor Marcela Carena leads Fermilab's Theory Division. She examines where cosmology meets particle physics, aiming to clarify how matter first emerged during the cosmos' infancy. Central to this quest is the relationship between known entities like the Higgs boson and mysterious components like dark matter. The Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics and Enrico Fermi Institute both include her as a member. She aims to link these components back to how matter first formed during the universe's infancy.

To bridge these gaps, theorists investigate high-level concepts such as supersymmetry and warped extra dimensions. While these ideas may sound abstract, Carena’s research specifically focuses on how they can be tested in physical experiments. This involves close collaboration with physicists at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN to develop concrete strategies for discovery, ensuring that theoretical models are grounded in observable reality. Her investigations concentrate on experimental ways to verify such unconventional theories. To execute discovery plans, she collaborates with University of Chicago and Fermilab scientists.

The field is currently expanding into new frontiers, including the boundary between particle physics and quantum information. By tackling problems of quantum theory alongside cosmological questions, researchers aim to create a more unified understanding of existence. This 'big science' approach moves from initial inspiration through design, approval, and data acquisition to final peer review, highlighting the massive logistical and intellectual scale required to map the invisible. Argentina's National Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences granted her membership. In 2017, she held the chair position for the American Physical Society's Division of Particles and Fields.

Recent developments, such as results from the Fermilab Muon g-2 experiment, provide exciting new data points for these theories. By analyzing these anomalies, scientists can refine their models of how the universe operates at its most fundamental level. The Muon g-2 experiment results were announced last year. This lecture was part of a series titled How to do big science hosted by Fermilab Arts & Lectures At Home Series.

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