A team of scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory including those from India created the heaviest antimatter (anti-helium nucleus). What is/are the implication/implications of the creation of antimatter? 1. It will make mineral prospecting and oil exploration easier and cheaper. 2. It will help probe the possibility of the existence of stars and galaxies made of antimatter. 3. It will help understand the evolution of the universe. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

QUESTION

Hard

Science & Technology

Prelims 2012

A team of scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory including those from India created the heaviest antimatter (anti-helium nucleus). What is/are the implication/implications of the creation of antimatter?

It will make mineral prospecting and oil exploration easier and cheaper.
It will help probe the possibility of the existence of stars and galaxies made of antimatter.
It will help understand the evolution of the universe.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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Explanation

The creation of the anti-helium-4 nucleus (the heaviest antimatter discovered at the time) by the STAR collaboration at Brookhaven National Laboratory has significant scientific implications:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Antimatter is extremely difficult and expensive to produce and store. It has no practical application in mineral prospecting or oil exploration, which primarily utilize geological, seismic, and remote sensing technologies.
Statement 2 is correct: The discovery provides a reference point for space-based experiments like the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS). By understanding heavy antimatter nuclei, scientists can better search for them in cosmic rays, which helps investigate if distant galaxies or stars made entirely of antimatter exist.
Statement 3 is correct: A fundamental mystery in cosmology is why the universe is dominated by matter when the Big Bang should have produced equal amounts of matter and antimatter. Studying stable forms of heavy antimatter helps scientists understand this asymmetry and the early evolution of the universe.

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