Nobel Prize in Physics Winner Dr. Eric Cornell on Ultra-Cold Matter

Dr. Eric Cornell won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2001 for creating, as he calls it, “the world’s coldest stuff.” In this interview, he explains how quantum physics differs from classical physics, the nature of antimatter, and whether electrons could be asymmetrical. He discusses the research that won him the Nobel Prize: creating the world’s first Bose-Einstein condensate, by using lasers and magnets to cool down a gas to a nanokelvin above absolute zero. In straightforward terms, he explains how the Bose-Einstein condensate occurs when particles get so cold they start acting like waves, and form an ultra-cold, jelly-like substance. He also gives his best advice for young scientists: to work on their communication skills as well as their STEM skills.