ScienceJuly 17, 2026

boson

BOH-zon

Definition

A type of subatomic particle that carries force and follows Bose-Einstein statistics, distinguishing it from fermions.

Etymology

The word is named after the Indian physicist Satyendra Nath Bose, who proposed the statistical behavior of these particles, combined with the suffix -on used for subatomic particles.

In the news

In the article, the Z boson is mentioned as a specific particle used in previous experimental setups to help scientists identify and isolate particle wakes within quark-gluon plasma.

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

Related words

albedo

The proportion of the incident light or radiation that is reflected by a surface, body,…

Science

astrogeology

The study of the geology and physical structure of celestial bodies other than Earth,…

Science

astrophysicist

A scientist who studies the physical nature of stars, planets, and other celestial…

Science

chitin

A tough, semitransparent, nitrogenous polysaccharide that forms the principal component…

Science

chromosphere

The reddish, gaseous layer of the Sun's atmosphere located between the photosphere and…

Science

clinostat

A device that rotates a sample at a constant speed to cancel out the effects of…

Science

Learn words like this every day

Meet new words every morning.

Newspoken pulls carefully chosen words from the day’s news — with clear definitions, context, and light review that makes them stick. Get it on your phone.