ScienceAugust 15, 2026
positronium
poz-ih-TRO-nee-um
Definition
A short-lived, exotic atom consisting of an electron and a positron orbiting a common center of mass.
Etymology
The word is a portmanteau derived from 'positron' (a positively charged electron) and the suffix '-ium', often used to name chemical elements. It was coined by physicist Arthur Ruark in 1945 to describe the bound state of these two particles.
In the news
The article mentions recent observations of wave behavior in positronium as an example of active fundamental physics research involving positrons. It provides context for the broader field of antimatter study.
US scientists place record limit on muon’s electric signal in search for new physics
Read the full article ↗Interesting Engineering