Nick Hutzler (Photo – caltech.edu)
Where does the matter in our universe come from? It’s a question that has puzzled scientists for generations, and one that physicist Nick Hutzler is determined to help answer.
By News Desk
On October 22, 2025, at 7:30 pm., Hutzler (BS ’07), assistant professor of physics at Caltech, will present a free public lecture titled “Molecules, Mysteries, and the Matter of Existence”. The event, part of the prestigious Watson Lecture series, will take place in Beckman Auditorium on the Caltech campus.
Hutzler’s talk will explore how his team uses advanced techniques—including lasers and microwaves—to study particles inside molecules, searching for clues about one of the universe’s biggest unanswered questions: Why does matter exist?
The Big Bang theory describes how the universe burst into existence through an enormous release of energy, forming matter—and eventually, the stars, planets, and galaxies we see today. But Hutzler points out a fundamental problem in that picture.
“Whenever you create matter from energy, you also create antimatter in equal amounts,” he explains. “But there is no antimatter freely available in the universe. Whatever it was that created matter over antimatter could be some new particle or force. That process leaves a signature on regular matter.”
In his lab, Hutzler and his team excite electrons in molecules using electromagnetic waves, looking for those signatures—faint traces of the forces that might have tipped the cosmic balance in favor of matter, allowing our universe to exist.
The evening begins at 6:00 pm on Beckman Mall, where members of Hutzler’s lab will be on hand with interactive exhibits and answers to visitors’ questions. Guests can enjoy food, drinks, and music before the lecture, and stay afterward for coffee, tea, and informal discussions with researchers.
Hutzler’s passion for science began during his childhood in rural Wisconsin, inspired by the natural world, his mother’s encouragement, and science shows like Bill Nye the Science Guy. After visiting Caltech as a high school sophomore, he was drawn to its scientific intensity and later earned his undergraduate degree there in mathematics. During a summer research program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Hutzler discovered a love for experimental physics, a path that would take him to a PhD at Harvard and eventually back to Caltech as a faculty member in 2017.
The Watson Lecture Series, held monthly, features Caltech scientists sharing cutting-edge research aimed at solving major global challenges and shaping future technologies. The events are open to the public and designed to spark curiosity and community engagement.
For anyone curious about the origins of the universe, or how a molecule might hold the key to our very existence, this is a night not to miss.
Molecules, Mysteries, and the Matter of Existence October 22, 2025 7:30 pm (Pre-event activities begin at 6:00 pm) Location Beckman Auditorium, Caltech Campus, Pasadena Free and open to the public
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