Antimatter is a type of matter that is composed of antiparticles. Antiparticles are identical to particles of ordinary matter, such as protons, neutrons, and electrons, but have opposite electrical charges. When particles of matter and antimatter come into contact, they annihilate each other in a burst of energy. Antimatter has a wide range of potential applications, from powering space travel to cancer treatment, but producing and storing it is currently a difficult and expensive process.