News Physics

Physicists may have finally spotted elusive clusters of four neutrons

If confirmed, ‘tetraneutrons’ could help scientists better understand nuclear forces

illustration of a tetraneutron

Four neutrons may form a short-lived agglomeration called a tetraneutron (illustrated).

Sonja Battenberg/TUM

By Emily Conover

- More than 2 years ago

Physicists have found the strongest sign yet of a fabled four of a kind.

For six decades, researchers have hunted for clusters of four neutrons called tetraneutrons. But evidence for their existence has been shaky.