Bubble chambers are used to detect the tiny components that make up the constituent parts (protons, neutrons, electrons) of atoms. These elusive, short-lived particles are impossible to see directly; here they make traces as they travel through a super-cooled chamber filled with liquified gas. The spray of spiralling tracks is caused by collisions between the sub-atomic particles in the chamber, which create charged particles. Powerful magnetic fields are applied, causing these to spiral left or right according to their electrical charge. The degree of curvature reveals their charge, mass and speed.