In a world first scientists have observed the creation of matter from light
Matter has to be come from somewhere, and now scientists have just observed it happen for the very first time.
Key takeaways
- One of the most fascinating implications of Einstein’s famous equation E=mc2 is that matter and energy are interchangeable.
- In other words, it should be possible to create matter from pure energy, such as light.
- The scientists analyzed more than 6,000 such pairs and found that their angular distribution matched the theoretical prediction for matter creation from light.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2023) 'In a world first scientists have observed the creation of matter from light', 311 Institute, 28 September. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/in-a-world-first-scientists-have-observed-the-creation-of-matter-from-light/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
One of the most fascinating implications of Einstein’s famous equation E=mc2 is that matter and energy are interchangeable. In other words, it should be possible to create matter from pure energy, such as light. This process, known as matter creation or pair production, was first proposed by physicists Gregory Breit and John Wheeler in 1934. However, it has remained elusive for decades, as it requires extremely high-energy photons to collide with each other and produce electron-positron pairs.
Now, a team of scientists from Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York has reported the first direct observation of matter creation from light in a single step. They used the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), a powerful particle accelerator that can smash together heavy ions at nearly the speed of light. By doing so, they created intense electromagnetic fields that contained virtual photons, which are short-lived disturbances in the fields that behave like real photons.
When two ions passed by each other without colliding, some of their virtual photons interacted and turned into real photons with very high energy. These photons then collided with each other and produced electron-positron pairs, which were detected by the STAR detector at RHIC. The scientists analyzed more than 6,000 such pairs and found that their angular distribution matched the theoretical prediction for matter creation from light.
This experiment not only confirms a long-standing prediction of quantum electrodynamics, but also demonstrates a new way of studying the properties of matter and antimatter in extreme conditions. The scientists hope to further explore this phenomenon and its implications for fundamental physics and cosmology.
Reference(s): Research Article
What this means for your organisation
Proof of concept, not a product.
Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have seen matter created from light in a single step. The idea dates to 1934, so this confirms a long-standing prediction. Our data puts matter creation at TRL 2, with a first product in 2076, so the action is Watch.
The tools around it mature sooner.
The result depended on a powerful accelerator and on detectors that recorded more than 6,000 electron-positron pairs. Superconducting single photon detectors reach TRL 8 and wide use by 2038. Accelerator-based EUV light sources are at TRL 3, with wide use by 2040.
Spend on awareness, not on projects.
Matter creation gives physicists a new way to study matter and antimatter in extreme conditions. It does not yet change any business case. Photon counting X-ray detectors are at TRL 9 and carry an Explore action, which makes them the nearer-term place to look.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Which of our products depend on sensors that detect single particles of light?
- Who in our organisation tracks physics results that sit at TRL 2?
- What would make us move matter creation from Watch to Explore?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Matter has to be come from somewhere, and now scientists have just observed it happen for the very first time.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider bnl.gov
- PhysRevLett.127.052302 journals.aps.org
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 28 September 2023. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2023). In a world first scientists have observed the creation of matter from light. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/in-a-world-first-scientists-have-observed-the-creation-of-matter-from-light/
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