The latest in space science: We look back at the Big Bang

In this edition of Spacing Out, the team from Short Wave shares the in space science, including the theory on why the universe is made of matter Space The latest in space science: We look back at the Big Bang October 23, 20267:10 PM ET Heard on All Things Considered By  Regina G. Barber ,  Ari Daniel In this edition of Spacing Out, the team from Short Wave discusses the latest space science news Listen · Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www. npr. org/player/embed/nx-s1-6008076/nx-s1-9976650" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript In this edition of Spacing Out, the team from Short Wave shares the in space science, including the theory on why the universe is made of matter Transcript SCOTT DETROW, HOST: Here with another edition of Spacing Out... DETROW: Spacing Out, Spacing Out, Spacing Out.... With our friends at Short Wave, Regina Barber and Ari Daniel. Did you like my space echo? DETROW: What space news are we talking about today? BARBER: OK, first up, we're shining a light on a long ignored particle for the theory of why the universe is made of matter. ARI DANIEL, BYLINE: And then, Scott, we'll get into efforts a telescope damaged . DETROW: So let's get into it. You have set me up with a high bar of... Making relatable conversation about particle physics. BARBER: I tried so hard. It's hard for me, too. I'm a physicist, but, like, particle physics has always been hard. The particle at the heart of this story is a hypothetical particle, one that might have affected all of matter in the universe at the very beginning of existence. It's a kind of neutrino. DETROW: Let's just say, theoretically, I don't remember what a neutrino is. DANIEL: Well, theoretically, I have an answer. Neutrinos are extremely small, mysterious particles that don't really interact with anything. So they're incredibly difficult to catch and study. But we do know that they come in three flavors, and there are roughly 100 trillion of them passing through each of us every second. DETROW: What do they have to do with the early universe? BARBER: So when the universe was created over 13 billion years ago, matter and matters opposite, called antimatter, were thought to exist in equal amounts. But when matter and antimatter interact, they annihilate each other. DETROW: So how do we get to the place where we are now, where you and I and the microphone and everything else are made of matter?