Understanding the gravity of the situation: ALPHA scientists prove that antimatter falls at the same rate as matter

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. —

Early on in science classes all over the world, students drop diverse things to learn how gravity works and how outside forces might affect the rate of fall. But the science of falling goes well beyond the bowling ball and feather experiment. Einstein’s theory of relativity is still being studied, applied and proven in a multitude of ways today. For instance, the Antihydrogen Laser Physics Apparatus (ALPHA) project, based at CERN, published in Nature on Wednesday (Sept. 27) about the science of antimatter with the goal of discovering if gravity affects matter and antimatter in the same way. Spoiler alert: It does!