ScienceJune 30, 2026
antimatter
/ˈæntiˌmætər/
Definition
Matter composed of antiparticles that have the same mass as ordinary matter particles but opposite electric charges and other quantum numbers.
Etymology
The word is a combination of the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti', meaning 'against' or 'opposite') and the noun 'matter' (from Latin 'materia', meaning 'substance' or 'material'). It emerged in the early 20th century as physicists theorized the existence of particles with opposite physical properties.
In the news
The term is mentioned in the context of advanced propulsion research being discussed by Elon Musk and NASA leadership as a theoretical future energy source for spacecraft.
THE WEEK OF JUNE 29, 2026
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