"Production and Decay of Strange Particles" is an episode of the original ''

The Outer Limits ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...

'' television show. It first aired on 20 April 1964, during the first season. In a nuclear research plant, although the workers wear radiation suits, they are taken over by some odd glowing substance. It fills their suits and causes them to act like puppets. The episode mentions many modern physics concepts such as

neutrinos A neutrino ( ; denoted by the Greek letter ) is an elementary particle that interacts via the weak interaction and gravity. The neutrino is so named because it is electrically neutral and because its rest mass is so small ('' -ino'') that it ...

antimatter In modern physics, antimatter is defined as matter composed of the antiparticles (or "partners") of the corresponding subatomic particle, particles in "ordinary" matter, and can be thought of as matter with reversed charge and parity, or go ...

quasi-stellar object A quasar ( ) is an extremely luminous active galactic nucleus (AGN). It is sometimes known as a quasi-stellar object, abbreviated QSO. The emission from an AGN is powered by accretion onto a supermassive black hole with a mass ranging from mil ...

s (at that time just discovered and perhaps mentioned here in TV fiction for the first time) and

subatomic particle In physics, a subatomic particle is a particle smaller than an atom. According to the Standard Model of particle physics, a subatomic particle can be either a composite particle, which is composed of other particles (for example, a baryon, lik ...

s with the property of "

strangeness In particle physics, strangeness (symbol ''S'') is a property of particles, expressed as a quantum number, for describing decay of particles in strong and electromagnetic interactions that occur in a short period of time. The strangeness of a ...

" (a quantum property of matter which had been named only a few years before by physicists, despite objection at the time that it was no more "strange" or odd than any other property of subatomic particles). The episode name echoes a ''

Physical Review ''Physical Review'' is a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The journal was established in 1893 by Edward Nichols. It publishes original research as well as scientific and literature reviews on all aspects of physics. It is published by the Ame ...

'' paper of 1956, titled "Cloud-Chamber Study of the Production and Decay of Strange Particles."

Opening narration

:''In recent years, nuclear physicists have discovered a strange world of

s, fragments of atoms smaller than the imagination can picture, fragments of materials which do not obey the laws of gravity. Antimatter composed of inside-out material; shadow-matter that can penetrate ten miles of lead shielding. Hidden deep in the heart of strange new elements are secrets beyond human understanding – new powers, new dimensions, worlds within worlds, unknown.''

Plot

Whilst experimenting on

subatomic particles In physics, a subatomic particle is a particle smaller than an atom. According to the Standard Model of particle physics, a subatomic particle can be either a composite particle, which is composed of other particles (for example, a baryon, like ...

using waldos researchers inadvertently start a chain reaction that seemingly controls the researchers themselves. Scientist after scientist is subsumed, turned into what at first appear to be nuclear '

zombie A zombie (Haitian French: ; ; Kikongo: ''zumbi'') is a mythological undead corporeal revenant created through the reanimation of a corpse. In modern popular culture, zombies appear in horror genre works. The term comes from Haitian folkl ...

s' by a mass of sentient particles from another dimension. The truth however, is more terrible, for when one turns to face a colleague who has entered the hot zone to investigate, its faceplate displays naught but television snow... The still-human survivors in the lab fear they may be powerless to stop the eerily controlled chain reaction. Just as the ever-expanding particles are about to engulf the lab itself, the head of the research facility in a deux ex machina calculates a formula which reverses the effects of the reaction, incorporates a random element, and neutralizes the subatomic but sentient lifeform that had abruptly gained entry into our world.

Closing narration

:''As Man explores the secrets of the universe, strange and inscrutable powers await him. And whether these powers are to become forces of destruction or forces of construction will ultimately depend upon simple but profound human qualities: Inspiration. Integrity. Courage.''

Cast

References

External links

{{The Outer Limits The Outer Limits (1963 TV series) season 1 episodes 1964 American television episodes Fiction about physics