Welcome, Welcome, Welcome! Today we’re diving into the scintillating world of science—yep, that’s right. I know some of you were hoping for comedy, but let’s face it, if you can explain String Theory to your Nan, you can probably channel your inner genius while eating a biscuit!
So, in this episode of La Loupe, we’ve got the brilliant Fabiola Gianotti, the queen bee of CERN. This is the woman who made those particle smashers at CERN look like a children’s toy in a science lab! I mean, she discovered the Higgs boson. That’s on par with discovering that your neighbor has a secret stash of Marmite. It’s just that significant! And here’s a fun fact: she’s the first woman to ever direct CERN. Take that, old boys’ club!
Now, what’s the deal with this Higgs boson, you ask? Think of it as the “Jessica Rabbit” of particles: it’s got a bit of mass—and boy, does it make everything else look good! Gianotti’s work explains why some materials are hefty and others are feather-light. Honestly, at this point, if mass has its own Instagram, the Higgs boson would be on every red carpet!
Moving on to the juicy stuff—how does this relate to our chaotic world today? Spoiler alert: science is the superhero we need! Forget Batman; we’re talking Higgs Woman swooping in to save the day! As the episode touches upon, in today’s climate—be it political tensions or existential dread—it’s science that holds the string (theory, get it?) that can weave us back to sanity.
In fact, Gianotti suggests that the problems of our time—be it the fallout from the Ukraine war or any social discord—need to be addressed with a scientific lens. You might not get a cape out of it, but some lab goggles will do just fine!
And let’s not forget the collaboration happening across borders. French researchers are stepping up to help their Ukrainian counterparts. Because when the going gets tough, the tough get… erm, scientific? It’s heartwarming, really—like a game of chess where all the pieces are pulling together, and instead of a checkmate, you end up with a solution for world peace! Now that’s what I call a plot twist!
So, if you fancy a mental workout that isn’t just trying to figure out how to turn leftovers into gourmet meals, give this episode a listen! And subscribe while you’re at it—because, like the Higgs boson, you’re not going to find a better deal in the universe!
And remember, dear listeners: if you want to know what’s “really” going on, don’t just read the news—subscribe to our newsletter. Get the real scoop straight from the scientific source. Because if Fabiola Gianotti can figure out why we exist, surely you can figure out how to set your podcast player?
The team: As always, thanks to Charlotte Baris for presenting and writing, and Jules Krot for editing and direction. Without them, we’d just be here…well, I’d just be here rambling into the void!
Listen to this episode and tell your friends—or don’t, I’m not the boss of you! But make sure to tune in for some science that’s delivered with just the right dose of cheekiness! Who says physics can’t be fun? Cheers!
In this third episode, Fabiola Gianotti, physicist and director of Cern, reminds us that all the challenges of today’s world need science.
READ ALSO: How the war in Ukraine sowed discord at CERN: “Relationships were broken”
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The team: Charlotte Baris (presentation and writing), Jules Krot (editing and direction)
Music and dressing: Emmanuel Herschon/Studio Torrent
Logo: Jérémy Cambour
How to listen to a podcast? Follow the leader.
Charlotte Row : To start this episode, I would like to introduce you to the personality who will accompany us today. Her name is Fabiola Gianotti. You may not know her, but she is one of the most recognized scientists at the moment. Fabiola Gianotti is one of those who discovered the Higgs boson.
I am not going to go into the details of this mechanism, for that I lack some knowledge of physics, but know that it is major: this particle helps to explain why certain elements have mass and others do not. don’t have. And therefore to understand how stars, planets and life could emerge.
All this was theory until 2012 and the observation of the Higgs boson at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. And Fabiola Gianotti is precisely the first woman to direct this laboratory.
Now I know what you are going to ask me: what is the relationship between CERN, the Higgs boson and the tensions that cross our world? In this episode, we will explain to you that in these turbulent times, we need science more than ever.
To go further
In France, research helps Ukrainian scientists
“Chaos” in Europe: the warning from British intelligence services
Thomas L. Friedman: “In the Middle East today we are witnessing a pyre of peace”
