A collective of four male and two female PhD students from the Annecy Laboratory of Particle Physics (LAPP) and the Annecy Laboratory of Theoretical Physics (LAPTh) has created a science popularization work. The book, titled 'Pénélope's Cosmic Odyssey', takes the reader on an extraordinary journey to the far reaches of the Universe.
The main character, Pénélope, a young amateur astronomer, meets young scientists who help her explore mysteries such as dark matter, axions, neutrinos, gamma rays, and quantum gravity. The project originated from a science popularization training session where three future team members were encouraged to continue the initiative.
The authors consider this comic book format a formidable scientific mediation tool, making complex subjects more accessible and sparking curiosity. 'From a practical standpoint, unlike a conference, a comic book is accessible everywhere,' explains Léo Le Moigne from LAPP. The authors hope to ignite interest in science among high school students, particularly young girls.
To bring Pénélope's universe to life, the collective collaborated with illustrator Antoine Tassel. The preface was written by Françoise Combe, the first female astronomer elected to the Academy of Sciences, highlighting the group's commitment to science popularization.
This initiative complements other popularization projects by USMB, such as Astragora, an inclusive Discord server. Four members of the collective also participated in the 'My Thesis in 180 Seconds' competition in 2025.
The creation of this comic book was supported financially by LAPP, LAPTh, USMB, the French Physical Society (SFP), the Enigmass+ research federation, and the scientific culture centers La Turbine sciences and Eurêka.
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