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Unstable Particle Throws A Wobble Into Conventional Physics

The Compact Muon Solenoid searches for muons at the Large Hadron Collider in Cern.
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The Compact Muon Solenoid searches for muons at the Large Hadron Collider in Cern.

You're clear on protons, neutrons, and electrons, but how about muons? They have a charge similar to electrons, but are bigger.

Muons are also unstable, lasting for a tiny fraction of a second, unlike electrons. And recent research shows that muons do not act in ways standard physics theory would predict.

This is potentially a huge finding, one Clara Moskowitz follows as a senior editor at Scientific American. Moskowitz stops by for a quick lesson.

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The Jefferson Exchange is Jefferson Public Radio's daily news program focused on issues, people and events across Southern Oregon and Northern California. Natalie Golay is the program's senior producer, Charlie Zimmermann is the assistant producer, and Mike Green hosts the show.