What better way is there to get kids interested in physics than to build a detector to count cosmic rays that pass right by us? Howard Matis from Berkeley Labs in California did just that. His 1996 project included building 10 of the detectors as well as creating a manual for assembly. This allows others to replicate the machine so more students would be able to use it.

The detector has been built by many others since Mr. Matis completed his plans. It is now being used as part of the QuarkNet teaching program and is receiving more recognition all the time. So does the detector work? Well, according to Mr. Bob Hurley, one of the lead teachers at a QuarkNet workshop, "It should be no surprise that our analysis of data for muon lifetime is consistent with the theory of relativity."

The educators involved in making these detectors have also had the opportunity to have a little fun of their own. One such group took the detector to the Continental Divide to "test it out," though it seems like just an excuse to do a little sightseeing.

In addition to the trip to Independence Pass, Mr. Matis also noted that one of his detectors has made it all the way to Africa. With more detectors being assembled all the time, more students are gaining vital knowledge about particle physics. What an introduction to experimental science!