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from the extraordinary-claims-require-extraordinary-evidence dept.
Shock result in particle experiment could spark physics revolution
Scientists just outside Chicago have found that the mass of a sub-atomic particle is not what it should be.
The measurement is the first conclusive experimental result that is at odds with one of the most important and successful theories of modern physics.
The team has found that the particle, known as a W boson, is more massive than the theories predicted.
[...] The scientists at the Fermilab Collider Detector (CDF) in Illinois have found only a tiny difference in the mass of the W Boson compared with what the theory says it should be - just 0.1%. But if confirmed by other experiments, the implications are enormous. The so-called Standard Model of particle physics has predicted the behaviour and properties of sub-atomic particles with no discrepancies whatsoever for fifty years. Until now.
CDF's other co-spokesperson, Prof Georgio Chiarelli, from INFN Sezione di Pisa, told BBC News that the research team could scarcely believe their eyes when they saw the results.
"No-one was expecting this. We thought maybe we got something wrong." But the researchers have painstakingly gone through their results and tried to look for errors. They found none.
The result, published in the journal Science, could be related to hints from other experiments at Fermilab and the Large Hadron Collider at the Swiss-French border. These, as yet unconfirmed results, also suggest deviations from the Standard Model, possibly as a result of an as yet undiscovered fifth force of nature at play.
Also at Nature and Ars Technica.
Journal Reference:
T. Aaltonen. S. Amerio. D. Amedei, et. al.,High-precision measurement of the W boson mass with the CDF II detector, Science, (DOI: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abk1781)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 09 2022, @09:54PM (5 children)
You know they're just publicity whores and not serious scientists when they have co-spokespersons. Remember, kids, you don't need a PR team to do good science. Einstein didn't have a press agent, and he certainly didn't have a hair stylist.
(Score: 0, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 09 2022, @10:56PM
Einstein would be thrown out of today's university environments. Hell, he was thrown out back then. They would have no tolerance for his dreamy bullshit - back in the lab and churn out product, why can't you be more like the quiet Chinese boys/girls/whatever/who-can-tell-the-difference?
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 10 2022, @02:06AM (2 children)
https://news.fnal.gov/2022/04/cdf-collaboration-at-fermilab-announces-most-precise-ever-measurement-of-w-boson-mass/ [fnal.gov]
In today's world to stick with something that long deserves a medal
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 10 2022, @02:19PM (1 child)
Tell it to college dropouts that are stuck with waiting tables all their bitter life.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 11 2022, @03:48AM
In today's world to stick with something that long deserves a medal.
(Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Sunday April 10 2022, @04:16PM
Typically in a big experiment like this, there can be more than one spokesperson; for example there may be a "US spokesperson" and an "international spokesperson". I am curious as to why you think that this is uncommon.