Author Archives: markdowe1

Research, Science

Scientists reveal that the proton’s size is moveable

PARTICLE PHYSICS

Intro: The radius of the proton, a subatomic particle, seems to vary depending on how you look at it

THE proton, one of the building blocks for all matter, is proving to be an awkward customer to size up. If you look at its charge, it will have one radius, but if you look at its mass, you will see a different, smaller radius.

A new picture of the proton is emerging. In the 1960s, experiments that fired electrons at protons revealed that the latter contained point-like, electrically charged particles that we now call quarks. A proton has two up quarks and a down one. Quarks were later found to be bound together by particles called gluons.

We now know more about quarks and how far their electric field extends in space, which is sometimes called the radius of the proton. But we know less about gluons, which contain most of the mass of the proton in the form of energy, because they are chargeless, and so much harder to investigate. Seeing how they are distributed can tell us about how the proton’s mass is arranged and its structure.

Scientists at the Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois have probed the proton’s gluons with particles called J/psi mesons. This is possible because even though gluons don’t have electric charge, they have a property called colour charge, which comes from the strong nuclear force, one of the universe’s four fundamental forces. J/psi mesons are made up of a charm quark and its antiquark, which also have colour charge and so are capable of interacting with gluons.

The researchers fired a beam of photons at liquid hydrogen, which is comprised mainly of just protons, and the photons interacted with the protons. These collisions produced short-lived J/psi mesons. By measuring how many of these were produced, the research team could calculate the proton’s mass distribution using quantum mechanical models that describe gluon-quark interactions.

Their results suggest that the gluons’ mass is confined to a dense core in the proton’s centre, while the charge from the quarks extends to a second, larger radius.

They also compared their results with predictions from another model of the proton, which agreed in some places and diverged at others, suggesting that the new figures need validating with more precise experiments or one that probe proton structure in a different way.

If it is confirmed, it will be a very interesting finding because it tells us something quite deep about how the proton’s constituents behave from a spatial point of view.

A different internal structure could have implications for calculating other proton properties, such as spin, angular momentum and energy distribution, which many sensitive experiments rely on. But some of the new proton findings rest on models used to calculate them, which haven’t proved entirely reliable in the past.

The results follow another revelation about the proton’s internal structure. Last year, a research team found that the proton can contain a much heavier charm quark, in addition to the three regular quarks, but asked: ‘Does the mass radius become larger or smaller?’

. Further understanding on quarks can be found:

Science Book: Physics

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Arts

Friendship Medal

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Arts, Christianity, Culture

Romans 8: A cast-iron guarantee

NEW TESTAMENT

– A narrative on Romans 8

THERE is nothing more crippling than uncertainty. Did I lock up? Will she turn up? Will I be late? Throughout Romans Paul seems to have a sub-agenda. He wants to deepen his readers’ assurance that because of the death and resurrection of Jesus they have no need to worry about the future.

Chapter 8 begins on a stronger note than the chapters before it. We have peace with God (5:1) despite the persistent struggles (chapters 6-7), and therefore we are safe for eternity (8:1). The death sentence has been lifted; we have been pronounced “not guilty”; we cannot be retried and the case against us cannot be re-opened.

God has ensured that his lawful and just requirements concerning our past have been met fully by what Christ has done. We are free (vv 3,4). Our human frailty may cause us to doubt it, so Paul goes on to explain that despite appearances to the contrary we are now under new management (v 9).

Therefore, we are the heirs – the rightful possessors – of the riches of God’s kingdom (v 17) and no one can rob us of them (vv 38,39). So we are obliged to live up to our new status (v 12a; Paul is so anxious to stress the death of the old nature that he doesn’t complete this sentence until chapter 12!).

One evidence of our new standing before God is how we turn to him in prayer, as to a caring parent who can help, guide and support (8:15). If we don’t always feel this, one way to become more aware of our heavenly Father’s care is simply to relate to him as if it were true, to take it on trust. We will then discover that it is true as we see him at work in and through the daily struggles we bring to him.

(Podcast ends)

THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

THE letter to the Romans is unique among Paul’s writings. It is a theological treatise, and not at all a trouble-shooting letter. It is not a summary of all his beliefs, however; there’s not much on the church, the divinity of Christ or the second coming. Instead, Romans focuses on the atonement, telling us how sinful people can be reconciled to God through faith in the LORD Jesus Christ.

Paul explains this is terms familiar to first-century Jews, but which Christians today find difficult. Yet Romans can lay claim to being the most effective mailshot in history. Paul sent it to introduce himself and his message; it has transformed people’s lives, churches and societies ever since.

Readers’ will not find the letter particularly easy. However, you will likely discover enriching but humbling truths to illuminate your faith in a fresh way. Whilst the Letter to the Romans shows that all people have fallen short of God’s standards it challenges us to receive the benefits of Christ’s death through faith. Through Christ alone comes our salvation and an assurance of being absolved of our sins through His death. That’s the central message from Romans given to Christians.

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