???? UNDER THE LAMPLIGHT-

A deep dive into matter, and why it matters: Experimental physicist Suzie Sheehy designs equipment that can manipulate matter on a miniscule scale. The biggest question on her mind: “What is matter, and how does it interact to create everything around us — including ourselves?” In The Matter of Everything she spotlights 12 experiments and the dedicated scientists associated with them to demonstrate that the way we live has largely been shaped by particle physics. Among the experiments highlighted is Wilhelm Roentgen’s accidental discovery of X-rays in 1895 while he was testing whether cathode rays could pass through glass. Not knowing how to describe the phenomenon he encountered, Roentgen referred to it as an X-ray in his notes, and the name stuck. She also highlights female scientists’ contributions to the field that are often overlooked, such as Harriet Brooks’ — the first Canadian woman nuclear physicist — research on radioactivity.