A day of science discoveries: CERN physicists detect a long-sought meson decay, NOAA and NASA track an unusually large Antarctic ozone hole, and a new study shows glacial climate shifts were slower than thought. Other research covers chiral fermions in metals, high-temperature superconductivity, and an ancient genetic rescue in codfishes.
Ultrarare particle decay observed at CERN
Phys.org reported that physicists at CERN have detected evidence of a rare meson decay, B⁰ → µ⁺µ⁻, in which a beauty quark and a down quark annihilate into a muon and antimuon. The finding, sought since 1984, helps test the Standard Model.
Reported by Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories
Unusually large ozone hole measured in 2026
NOAA and NASA scientists report that atypical weather caused the Antarctic ozone hole to grow to an unusually large size this year, though the ozone layer remains on track to recover later this century, according to Phys.org.
Reported by Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories
Glacial climate shifts took centuries
A study published in Science used high-resolution speleothem records from China and India and isotope-enabled climate models to show that abrupt glacial ocean circulation recoveries took centuries, not decades, affecting how future Atlantic circulation change is assessed.
Reported by Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories
Chiral topological phases found in metals
New research has uncovered chiral topological phases in metals without structural order, hosting electronic versions of massless chiral fermions. The work is reported by Phys.org.
Reported by Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories
Superconductor pseudogap and pairing energy equivalence
A paper published in Science reports the equivalence of pseudogap and pairing energy in a cuprate high-temperature superconductor.
Reported by AAAS: Science: Table of Contents
Ancient genetic rescue saved codfish ancestors
A study reported by Phys.org reveals how the repurposing of an ancestral gene allowed codfish ancestors to survive after losing genes essential for egg buoyancy, enabling large populations that later shaped the North Atlantic.
Reported by Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories
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12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 2 supported.
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- Partly supportedCERN has found the first evidence of the ultrarare particle decay after 40 years of searching.Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories: “After 40 years of searching, physicists find evidence for an ultrarare particle decay.”
- Partly supportedCERN physicists found evidence of the decay at CERN.Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories: “After 40 years of searching, physicists find evidence for an ultrarare particle decay.”
- Not in the sourcesThe decay is B⁰ → µ⁺µ⁻, in which a beauty quark and a down quark annihilate into a muon and an antimuon.Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories: “After 40 years of searching, physicists find evidence for an ultrarare particle decay.”
- Partly supportedThe Antarctic ozone hole grew to an unusually large size in 2026.Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories: “NOAA, NASA release measurements of 2026 ozone hole.”
- Not in the sourcesAtypical weather caused the ozone hole to grow.Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories: “NOAA, NASA release measurements of 2026 ozone hole.”
- Not in the sourcesThe ozone layer remains on track to recover later this century.Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories: “NOAA, NASA release measurements of 2026 ozone hole.”
- Partly supportedAbrupt glacial ocean-circulation recoveries took centuries, not decades.Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories: “Ice-age abrupt climate shifts were not as fast as thought, new study finds.”
- Not in the sourcesThe glacial-climate study used high-resolution speleothem records from China and India and isotope-enabled climate models.Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories: “Ice-age abrupt climate shifts were not as fast as thought, new study finds.”
- SupportedNew research uncovered chiral topological phases in metals without structural order.Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories: “New research uncovers chiral topological phases in metals without structural order.”
- Not in the sourcesThe new phases host electronic versions of massless chiral fermions.Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories: “New research uncovers chiral topological phases in metals without structural order.”
- SupportedA paper in Science reports equivalence between pseudogap and pairing energy in a cuprate high-temperature superconductor.AAAS: Science: Table of Contents: “Equivalence of pseudogap and pairing energy in a cuprate high-temperature superconductor.”
- Not in the sourcesAn ancestral gene was repurposed to help codfish ancestors survive after losing genes essential for egg buoyancy.Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories: “A 70-million-year-old genetic rescue allowed codfishes to escape extinction and shape the North Atlantic.”
