James Wetzel, Ph.D. is a research scientist at the University of Iowa. Recently, Wetzel has undertaken a project to 3D print 100 1:120-scale models of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector to help people understand the experiment.

Working With – and Discovering – the Unknown

On a regular basis, James Wetzel works with materials and concepts that a large number of people have never heard of. Currently, Wetzel is collaborating on the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment, which investigates (and helps discover) new or hypothesized physics particles, such as the Higgs boson and particles that make up dark matter. Wetzel explains, “Many people are surprised to learn that this “compact” structure is actually five stories tall and seven stories wide. However, it is very dense – every nook and cranny has electronics in it!” [Read more…]