Double page illustration for the Stephon Alexander column in BBC Science Focus

“ Welcome to the extraordinary world of Quantum Field Theory." This beautiful language of cosmic vibrations is helping scientists further understand the origins of the Universe.

In the grand tapestry of the cosmos, there exists a hidden language. It’s a symphony of vibrations that orchestrates everything from the motion of particles to the birth of stars – and perhaps even the elusive dark matter that makes up most of the mass centred in all galaxies. This language is known as quantum field theory and it’s one of the most elegant and precise concepts in all of science.

Thank you to Art Director Joe Eden