A science revolution is underway with the discovery of thousands of planets outside of our solar system and the creation
of revolutionary states of matter here on Earth. Unlocking these discoveries and their implications hinges on whether high
pressure scientists can understand and manipulate matter to and beyond atomic pressures. This is the realm where
chemistry involves core level electrons and where the nature of atoms themselves changes. I will discuss how a new
generation of high pressure experiments is disrupting many traditional perspectives in science, revealing new quantum
states of matter, (e.g.metallic  hydrogen, transparent aluminum, hot superconductors), and transforming how humans
explore the nature of planets-potential platforms for life throughout the universe.