\u201cThe density and temperature is so high that the regular atom structure is no longer maintained,\u201d says Yi Chen, assistant professor of physics at Vanderbilt University and a member of the CMS team. Instead, \u201call the nuclei are overlapping together and forming the so-called quark-gluon plasma, where quarks and gluons can move beyond the confines of the nuclei. They behave more like a liquid.\u201d<\/p>\n
This behavior was not only unexpected but also critical in understanding the universe\u2019s early stages. In this plasma, quarks and gluons do not behave like isolated particles but interact collectively, flowing in a manner similar to a liquid. This finding is significant because it challenges the traditional view of quark-gluon plasma as a gas-like state and opens up new avenues of research into the dynamics of the early universe.<\/p>\n
![\"Zmz5howw6sykj3yauazh7f](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/zMz5HowW6sYkj3YaUAzH7f-640-80.jpg.webp.webp\")
A photo of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector at the Large Hadron Collider, which conducted the new experiments.\u00a0
Image credit: Hertzog, Samuel Joseph: CERN)<\/p>\n
Recreating the Big Bang Conditions in the Lab<\/p>\n
To simulate the conditions of the early universe, scientists at the LHC collided heavy atomic nuclei at nearly the speed of light. This experiment temporarily created a droplet of quark-gluon plasma, lasting only for fractions of a second but providing valuable insights. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn our studies, we want to study how different things interact with the small droplet of liquid that is created in the collisions,\u201d Chen explains. <\/p>\n
The LHC\u2019s experiments allow scientists to observe how energetic particles, like high-energy quarks, interact with this hot, dense medium.<\/p>\n
In particular, the researchers focused on how these quarks travel through the plasma. Their interactions were tracked using Z bosons, particles that interact minimally with the plasma. This allowed researchers to isolate the effect of the quark on the surrounding medium, offering a clearer view of the early universe\u2019s conditions. The results revealed that the quarks leave behind a detectable \u201cwake,\u201d akin to how a boat creates ripples in water.<\/p>\n
![\"Jhs3ha24mrnutfg7ygxrd7](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/jHs3hA24mrnUTFG7yGxrD7-970-80.jpg.webp.webp\")
An illustration of the aftermath of a high-energy collision that created a quark-gluon plasma at Brookhaven Lab\u2019s Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider.\u00a0
Image credit: Brookhaven National Laboratory)<\/p>\n
A Subtle but Crucial Discovery<\/p>\n