The Physical Sciences Area seeks to understand the fundamental physics of the universe at scales ranging from the infinitely small, inside the world of subatomic particles and nuclei, to the infinitely large, in the structure and evolution of the universe. To tackle these two infinities, we develop cutting-edge tools and technologies, coupled with creative scientific insights, that advance scientific knowledge and ultimately benefit society.

 Compact S-filter at Bldg. 53

The Accelerator Technology & Applied Physics (ATAP) Division invents, develops, and deploys particle accelerators and accelerator-based photon sources to explore and control matter and energy.

 Engineer and intern inspecting blue tubing

The Engineering Division builds advanced scientific instrumentation that enables many of the research breakthroughs achieved by Berkeley Lab. These discoveries are the direct result of the integrated coordination and deployment of professional engineering and specialized technical resources.

 Solenoidal Tracker at Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and the Time Projection Chamber, project field cage

The Nuclear Science Division conducts basic research aimed at understanding the structure and interactions of nuclei and the forces of nature as manifested in nuclear matter.

 ATLAS pixel detectors in clean room

Interactions between matter and energy shape our world and the universe around us. Physics Division researchers are studying these interactions from the innermost confines of subatomic particles to the outermost reaches of the cosmos.

 Illustration of the ion trap used by the ISOLDE team to measure the electron affinity of chlorine. In the trap, chlorine anions are reflected back and forth between two electrostatic ion mirrors, allowing the laser beam (pink) to probe the anions for much longer than in conventional measurements. The laser frequency is tuned to find the exact photon energy above which the extra electron (small white circle) is removed from the anion. (Image: MIRACLS collaboration) Dan Kodroff shows a young visitor the vast unknown scale of dark matter masses. Credit: Emily Perry, Berkeley Lab Chiara Salemi and Nick Rodd are featured in this episode of Berkeley Lab's podcast, It's Elemental. (Image courtesy of Berkeley Lab Elements) Natalie Roe (right, at the podium) moderates a discussion with panelists (seated from left to right) Hitoshi Murayama, Fabiolo Gianotti, Pier Oddone, and Michael Turner, with Maria Spiropulu engaging remotely via Zoom (onscreen, above right). (Credit: Robinson Kuntz, Berkeley Lab)

Special guests Fabiola Gianotti, Michael Turner, and Maria Spiropulu visited Berkeley Lab on October 21, 2025, for a series of presentations and panel discussions about the future of particle physics research and US/EU scientific collaboration.

 Natalie Roe introducing Ben Zevenbergen at the podium, in front of a screen on which is projected Ben's initial slide with the title of his talk.

Technology and policy ethicist Ben Zevenbergen visited the Lab on September 30, 2025, to present a talk on the importance of responsible AI/ML use and ethical stewardship in scientific research.

 Jacklyn Gates (Staff Scientist, Heavy Element Group) at the Berkeley Gas-filled Separator, BGS, in Building 88 on Monday, July 8, 2024 at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, Calif. Experts in the Nuclear Science Division use the 88-Inch Cyclotron to test a new way to make superheavy element 116, livermorium. Photographer: Marilyn Sargent

In this short video, Nuclear Science Division researchers at Berkeley Lab’s 88-Inch Cyclotron show how they’ve successfully made superheavy element 116 using a beam of titanium-50, setting the team up to attempt making the heaviest element yet: 120.