How to Make an Apple Pie from Scratch

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An experimental physicist at the Large Hadron Collider explores the foundational questions of modern physics, such as the origins of matter and the nature of the universe. Carl Sagan once stated that to make an apple pie from scratch, one must first invent the universe. This raises critical inquiries: What is the fundamental matter that composes the universe? What occurred during the Big Bang? How did matter emerge from nothingness? The author, a particle physicist and science presenter from the University of Cambridge, embarks on a quest for answers. He visits the world's largest underground research facility in Italy's Gran Sasso mountains, where scientists study the Sun's core using elusive neutrinos. At CERN in Switzerland, he witnesses the daily production of antimatter, a substance that challenges our understanding of physics. Throughout the narrative, Cliff delves into the historical developments in physics and chemistry that have shaped our current knowledge and misconceptions. This exploration offers readers an engaging perspective on the ongoing quest to uncover the universe's secrets, highlighting the remarkable and improbable existence of the cosmos itself.