CERN scientists capture antimatter

Scientists working at CERN have been able to create and capture antimatter for up to a tenth of a second.

While this may not sound long in human terms, it is long enough to allow particles of antimatter to be studied without being annihilated by coming into contact with normal matter.

In order to achieve this, the scientists create complicated magnetic fields, separating the antimatter from the surrounding matter and preventing annihilation from taking place.

Jeffrey Hangst of Aarhus University, Denmark, is a spokesman for the ALPHA collaboration working on the project at CERN.

He says: "Nature ruled out antimatter. It is thus very rewarding - and a bit overwhelming - to look at the ALPHA device and know that it contains stable, neutral atoms of antimatter."

The antiproton decelerator at CERN was immortalised in popular fiction when Dan Brown cited it as an inspiration behind his storyline for Angels and Demons.