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New Subatomic Particle Discovered

Posted by michael on from the charmed-life dept.

Cyndi writes "A new subatomic particle has been discovered by researchers at Stanford. It seems to be "an unusual configuration of a charm quark and a strange anti-quark"."

3 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. importance is in the details by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    The combination was not the surprise, but the missing mass is, which suggests that the theoretical calculation of the binding force is incorrect (though such calculation is often an approximation themself) This usually signals that some aspect of the theory on the force is wrong or that their is yet another particle that was undetected, thus robbing some mass away. (Neutrino was 'discovered' this way)

  2. Must be LOVE! by SillySlashdotName · · Score: 5, Funny

    a charm quark with ... an anti strange [quark]

    Love makes strange bedfellows...

    This force, unlike most others in nature, becomes stronger as the distance between the two quarks increases.

    Absence makes the heart grow fonder...

    They have discovered the LOVE particle!

    --
    Acts of massive stupidity are almost never covered by warranty. --me.
  3. Binding force gets stronger with distance? by Lafe · · Score: 5, Interesting
    "The new particle called the Ds (2317), which combines a charm quark with another heavy quark - an anti strange, has unexpected properties that will provide insight into the force that binds the quarks together. This force, unlike most others in nature, becomes stronger as the distance between the two quarks increases."
    So, if I read this right, as long as you have enough of these particles, or none of them, you're fine.

    But what happens if you've only got one of them here, and the nearest other one is in a neighboring galaxy? Massive destruction? Infinite attraction? Or just enough attraction to get a geek a date?