Research
Something Isn’t Adding Up in Particle Physics
Backreaction · By Sabine Hossenfelder ·
The Brief
- A long-standing anomaly in particles containing bottom quarks has grown to 4.8 sigma.
- 4.8 sigma is just short of the 5-sigma level usually required for a discovery claim.
- The source says every other anomaly in particle physics over the past decade has disappeared, but this one has not.
Why it matters
A persistent anomaly that strengthens over time could point to physics beyond the Standard Model, though it is not yet statistically conclusive.
- #particle physics
- #bottom quark
- #anomaly
- #standard model
- #sigma
For over a decade, every anomaly in particle physics has disappeared. Not this one. A long-standing anomaly in particles containing bottom quarks has now grown to 4.8 sigma, just short of a discovery. Let’s take a look.