ScienceJuly 17, 2026
boson
/ˈboʊsɒn/
Definition
A fundamental subatomic particle that carries forces between other particles, such as the Z boson which mediates the weak nuclear force.
Etymology
The word is named after the Indian physicist Satyendra Nath Bose, who developed the statistical mathematics governing these particles in the 1920s. The suffix -on was added to denote a subatomic particle, following the pattern of terms like electron or proton.
In the news
The article mentions the Z boson as a reference point in previous unsuccessful experiments to detect particle wakes, highlighting why researchers shifted to a new method to achieve their findings.
Earth's largest particle accelerator opens new window into the early universe just after the Big Bang: 'A culmination of a decades-long quest'
Read the full article ↗Space