Collider data hint at unexpected new subatomic particles

Shortage of muons in B meson decay looks suspicious, but needs confirmation

LHCb experiment

WEIRD DECAYS  Something funny may be going on in certain particle decays measured in the LHCb experiment in Geneva (above). A new measurement has now added to scientists’ suspicions.

Maximilien Brice/CERN

A handful of measurements of decaying particles has seemed slightly off-kilter for years, intriguing physicists.