• Question: does your work have anything to do with space travel?

    Asked by anon-201686 to Sophia, Sarah, Meirin, George, Emily, Andy on 13 Mar 2019.
    • Photo: Andy Buckley

      Andy Buckley answered on 13 Mar 2019:

      Not directly, but modelling particle interactions with material is key to designing spacecraft, and I think if we want to explore the galaxy in person then we’re going to need to know sub-nuclear physics and gravity in more detail than we currently know. Think of it as investment for the future, as well as just the kind of curiosity research that comes naturally to humanity.

    • Photo: Emily Lewis

      Emily Lewis answered on 13 Mar 2019:

      Not at the moment, however there were some bonkers plans to power space rockets with nuclear energy called the Orion project. It’s unlikely to happen anytime soon but who knows what will happen in the future?!

    • Photo: Sophia Pells

      Sophia Pells answered on 13 Mar 2019:

      Unfortunately it doesn’t

    • Photo: Meirin Oan Evans

      Meirin Oan Evans answered on 14 Mar 2019:

      Not exactly, but a little bit. Some particle physics detector technologies have been used on satellites, for example to measure the levels of particle radiation coming from outer space. Such measurements will be crucial if we’re to travel through space, and particle physics detectors will help!

    • Photo: Sarah O'Sullivan

      Sarah O'Sullivan answered on 14 Mar 2019:

      Unfortunately not, because space travel seems so cool

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