The Tiny Experiment That Transformed Physics

In 1956, scientists conducted an experiment with cobalt atoms, expecting electrons to emit randomly. Instead, they favored a specific direction, challenging the concept of parity symmetry, which assumed no difference between directions. Chien-Shiung Wu's team found electrons emitted opposite to the atom's spin, suggesting a fundamental difference between left and right. This discovery questioned the weak nuclear force's behavior, which treats directions, matter, and time differently. The experiment revealed the weak force's complexity, prompting further research into the universe's fundamental laws.

How did the experiment's results differ from the expectations based on parity symmetry?

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What was the significance of the weak nuclear force in relation to the cobalt experiment?

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What are some of the ongoing questions in physics that arose from the cobalt experiment?

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