CERN discovers new subatomic particles

File photo: An event display shows the activity during a high-energy collision at the CMS control room of the European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN.

File photo: An event display shows the activity during a high-energy collision at the CMS control room of the European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN.

Published Nov 20, 2014

Share

Geneva - Scientists at the world's largest smasher say they have discovered two new subatomic particles never seen before that could widen our understanding of the universe.

An experiment using the European Organisation for Nuclear Research's Large Hadron Collider say the particles are baryons that were predicted to exist and could sharpen the picture of how things work beyond the “Standard Model” physics theory explaining the basic building blocks of matter.

In a statement on Wednesday, officials at the lab known by its French acronym CERN announced the discovery of the baryons made from three quarks bound together by a strong force.

CERN-based physicist Patrick Koppenburg said the study, using data taken during 2011 and 2012, could help differentiate between Standard Model effects and “anything new or unexpected in the future.” - Sapa-AP

Related Topics: