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

Particle accelerators aren’t just for testing the Standard Model. They’re also used to diagnose and treat disease and study world history.

By: Artemis Spyrou, Michigan State University and Andrea Richard, Ohio University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: October 2, 2026

Words: 1,138

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 2 days ago

By Artemis Spyrou, Michigan State University and Andrea Richard, Ohio University

While scientists are known for their dedication to their research, crawling on the floor to avoid electrocution for the sake of a measurement seems a little excessive. But this is what British physicist John Cockcroft and Irish physicist Ernest T.S. Walton had to do in the early 1930s while studying the structure of atomic nuclei. Luckily, their efforts led to their

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