So Why Physics? — Catalyst

written by taylor Shea carroll and prof. karol lang

Physics, while often agreed upon as the most fundamental science in terms of understanding the world around us, is also a subject that seems to catch a lot of flack. It’s not uncommon to hear CNS majors utter the phrase, “When am I even going to use this?” Perhaps that might even be a phrase I’ve uttered myself. But when you take an earnest look at how physics is being used to solve issues in the world around us, it becomes a little harder to be so critical.

Prof. Lang introduces himself by saying, “I’m an experimental particle physicist.” In layman’s terms (if such a thing can be used when describing physics), he investigates matter and radiation, particularly properties of neutrinos, perhaps the most mysterious elementary particles, through the use of particle accelerators and nuclear decays. “In particle physics, experiments are huge,” says Lang. Accelerators he has worked with are kilometers in size. He also conducts experiments away from accelerators and cosmic rays, deep underground in former mines or in tunnels beneath the Alps. Lang explains that “We are bombarded by cosmic rays constantly,” and because of this, the location of these experiments underground is essential to their success. “Natural radioactivity is also omnipresent. You are radioactive, though only in tiny amounts. However, if you touched such experiments with your bare hands you would destroy them.”

So why put so much money and time into these massive projects? Well, Lang explains that these experiments offer incredible insight into fundamental building blocks of Nature and the evolution of the Universe since the Big Bang. “It’s very deeply connected to the origins of the origins.” What brought Prof. Lang to Texas was the project near Waxahachie to build the largest-ever accelerator - the Superconducting Supercollider (SSC). After funding was cut by the United States Congress, he stayed at The University of Texas to teach and conduct research, although on a slightly different scale. In recent years Lang has also ventured into yet another type of experiments.

“I always wanted to give something back to society because I feel that I’m too much of a consumer,” says Lang, “And we know that there are spinoffs that can exploit particle physics for the humanities.”

Well, the answer lies in nuclear medical imaging. “In oncology, people use these nuclear energies all the time to fight cancer,” says Lang. This radiation allows doctors to target cancer cells and reduce their spread in the body. However, traditionally this has been done using X-ray radiation, which harnesses gamma rays. These gamma rays, while great at destroying cancer cells, also tend to destroy the healthy cells surrounding tumors, wreaking havoc on the body. A better technique is to use proton therapy. So Lang, along with researchers at MD Anderson and in Portugal, have sought to utilize Positron Emission Tomography (PET) for image-guided proton therapy. “There’s a way to choose with proton therapy,” says Lang, “By adjusting energy and angle, I can focus protons where most of the damage is happening so it does less damage to the healthy cells around it. But this needs to be checked and verified, possibly after each irradiation.”

Lang’s Positron Emission Tomography Scanner Located In His Lab At UT

Lang is currently working on a PET scanner that can image where protons deliver their energy. “Unlike with x-rays, during proton therapy you activate the tissue. You make up different isotopes, positron-emitting isotopes,” explains Lang. And when you map this, you can see where most of this energy is being deposited, and provide the feedback to ensure that it’s localized to the cancer cells. And Lang isn’t stopping there. “That triggered a lot of other related ideas. This field has a lot of opportunities,” he ensures.

So, when you find yourself taking a cynical approach to physics, or questioning its applications, remember that this work is making breakthroughs for those suffering from cancer diagnoses, as well as unlocking truths about the universe that we’ve been questioning since our existence. Physics isn’t just fundamental, it’s fascinating. That is, if you give it a chance.