Argonne seeks to solve some of the biggest cosmic mysteries, from the nature of dark matter to the early evolution of the universe. We illuminate the nature of matter, space, and time by studying the universe from its very smallest particles to the biggest things in the cosmos.

At the Open House, visitors toured Argonne’s ATLAS particle accelerator and learned how scientists use the tiny particles created in particle accelerators to solve cosmic mysteries. They saw supercool demonstrations of how some of the coldest liquids on Earth power some of the hottest science around. And they saw glassblowing demonstrations, learning how that ancient art is a critical part of today’s advanced science experiments.

They learned how the world’s fastest supercomputers reveal the workings of the universe. And they were able to ​“see” elusive particles for themselves using different types of particle detectors, and make their own basic building blocks of matter using household items like marshmallows and play dough.

Click through the slideshow below to see just a few of the photos from the Understanding Our Universe locations at the 2023 Open House. For more, visit our slideshow on Flickr or watch our YouTube video.