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Physics

The 50-year quest to find the particle that almost broke physics

When physicists first discovered a form of a radioactivity called beta decay it seemed to violate the laws of physics. It took 50 years to work out what was going on

By Suzie Sheehy

6 January 2023

Futuristic space particles in bright round energy structure. space orb VFX design element. Abstract colorful lights background animation energy ray of power electric magnetic.

Wolfgang Pauli postulated a particle that he believed couldn’t be detected

Shutterstock/Unwind

The following is an extract from our Lost in Space-Time newsletter. Each month, we hand over the keyboard to a physicist or two to tell you about fascinating ideas from their corner of the universe. You can sign up for Lost in Space-Time for free here.

Physicists have an impressive track record of world-changing discoveries: from the serendipitous discovery of X-rays in 1895, which transformed medicine, to experiments in the 1920s that verified quantum mechanics and enabled modern …

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