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The Conversation ·For the curious

Physicists Who Uncovered the First Particle Accelerator Were Honored with a Nobel Prize 75 Years Ago – Their Work Shaped Physics, Medicine and Even Art Research

by Andrea Richard, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University

Published 2026-10-02 12:48:56+00:00

How did a machine built to smash atoms end up in hospitals and the Louvre?

0:00 / 7:26 · Narrator Vindemiatrix

Context

Before massive underground rings like CERN existed, two physicists in the 1930s spent their days crawling on the floor to avoid electrocution while trying to smash atoms. Published on 2 October 2026, the story tracks the messy, room-sized origins of the first particle accelerator. A risky experiment with hydrogen and lithium eventually laid the groundwork for machines that now do everything from treating cancer to verifying ancient art at the Louvre. The history captures just how scrappy early nuclear physics really was, and how widely its tools have spread.

Show notes

A history of the particle accelerator, tracing its development from the first room-sized machine built in 1932 to the massive colliders of modern science. Details John Cockcroft and Ernest Walton's early experiments using accelerated protons to split lithium nuclei. Outlines how the technology eventually expanded beyond theoretical physics into practical applications, including cancer treatment, art authentication, and satellite testing.

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