New 'Mystery Meson' Sub-Atomic Particle Discovered

securitas writes "The BBC reports that scientists in Japan have discovered a new sub-atomic particle that defies current theories of matter and energy. The 'mystery meson' X(3872) was revealed while studying beauty quarks at the KEK High Energy Accelerator Research Organization Tsukuba meson factory. 'It weighs about the same as a single atom of helium and exists for only about one billionth of a trillionth of a second before it decays into other longer-lived, more familiar particles.' Scientists say the lifespan 'is nearly an eternity for a sub-atomic particle this heavy' and may require a change in current theory. Possible explanations for this include the particle being comprised of two quarks and two antiquarks, instead of the usual one-one pairing. More explanation and illustrations at KEK."

Comments

Another nail in the Standard Model's coffin

[Jesrad]

Yet Another Contradiction to the Standard Model. It's about time somebody came up with a Theory of Anything that unifies quantum mechanics, quantum electrodynamics and all known interactions and particles.

Re:In Soviet Russia...

[russx2]

Thanks for taking the time to post that highly original comment. Judging by your posting history, it's about all you post. Idiot.

Re:In Soviet Russia...

[Anonymous Coward]

Fuck off. And get a sense of humour while you're gone.

WRONG!

[Anonymous Coward]

you said:
All the Mesons consist of quark and antiquark. Examples:

Pion = (u, d(bar)); //charge +1
Kaon =(s, u(bar)); //charge -1
J/Psi =(c, c(bar)); //charge 0
D =(c, u(bar)); //charge 0
D(bar)=(c(bar), u); //charge 0

FOOL! everybody knows the J/Psi = (c,c(bar)); charge is -1

stupid!

Re:US Research

[aminorex]

You're taking rhetorical cheap shots and
failing to substantively address the issue.
Whether Pfizer can sell something or not is
not interesting. What is interesting is
whether it kills people or saves their lives.
Oxfam estimates that a strategic investment
of $20 in famine relief is the cost of a
human life. For the cost of the SSC project,
the U.S. could have eliminated malnutrition
globally. For this reason, I contend that
ever HEP physicist should be taken out and
shot, before they kill again.