The center that houses Sirius is open to the public to offer science curiosities and attractions; See how to participate | Campinas and region

One of the largest centers of scientific production in Brazil, the National Center for Energy and Materials Research (CNPEM), in Campinas (SP), opens its doors to the population next Saturday (17), starting from 9 am, to present Sirius, one of the most advanced particle accelerators in the world , and other superior laboratories working in the fields of biosciences, nanotechnology, and biorenewable materials.

Ciência Aberta is aimed at children and adults and promotes direct contact between the public and scholars. The event, whose holding has been interrupted in recent years due to the pandemic, does not require registration and, to enter, a voluntary contribution of 1 kg of non-perishable food is required.

are scheduled 85 interactive activitiesWhich includes practical experiences in laboratories, technology demonstrations, lectures and workshops. CNPEM also provides a food court and free parking.

Sirius is the main Brazilian science project, and it is a fourth-generation photonics laboratory that functions as a kind of “ultra-strong X-ray” that analyzes different types of materials at the scales of atoms and molecules.

To observe the structures, scientists accelerate electrons to nearly the speed of light, causing them to travel through the 500-meter-long tunnel 600,000 times per second. Next, the electrons are diverted to one of the research stations, or beamlines, for experiments.

This deflection is made with the help of super strong magnets, which are responsible for synchrotron light generation. Although very bright, it is not visible to the naked eye. According to scientists, the ray is 30 times thinner than the diameter of a strand of hair.