Big Think Finding meaning at the quantum level
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Sep 1, 2025 Don Lincoln, a senior scientist at Fermilab and a Higgs boson discoverer, explores the universe's mysteries through the lens of particle physics. He discusses how quantum mechanics influences our understanding of existence and the emotional connections scientists feel as they uncover profound secrets. The podcast also delves into the importance of curiosity in scientific inquiry and the relationship between physics and philosophy. Through engaging discussions, Don highlights the importance of experiential learning and the awe-inspiring journey of exploring the cosmos.
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Birth On A Scientific Prairie
- Kmele unexpectedly encountered a newborn bison calf while arriving at Fermilab, highlighting the site's prairie design and public openness.
- Fermilab's founder Robert Wilson intentionally created a pastoral campus to contrast wartime secrecy and signal science as open and humanistic.
Standard Model Is Our Current Map
- The Standard Model organizes 12 matter building blocks and force carriers into our current best explanation for particles.
- Fermilab searches for particles that break those rules to expand or revise that model.
Teach Science As Active Inquiry
- Teach students early that science is an evolving process instead of rote facts from textbooks.
- Introduce the scientific method and research-style problem solving to show how knowledge changes with new evidence.