This Particle Might Break Physics

You can’t see them, but muons may hold the key to unlocking new laws of physics. These tiny subatomic particles behave like electrons, but with more mass and some mysterious quirks.

Dr. Jessica Esquivel, a physicist at Fermilab and AAAS IF/THEN® Ambassador, studies how muons “dance” inside powerful detectors. When they move in unexpected ways, it could mean the universe isn’t playing by the rules—and that new physics is waiting to be discovered.

Explore how watching these particles spin might reveal answers to some of science’s biggest questions.

This project is part of IF/THEN®, an initiative of Lyda Hill Philanthropies.