science βοΈ Gluons might hold proton's secret key
New findings from the STAR detector challenge the standard view of protons' quantum properties. The research, conducted at RHIC, suggests gluons might carry baryon number via a Y-shaped junction connecting the three quarks. This challenges the assumption that baryon number resides exclusively with the quarks themselves. The discovery is significant because baryon number conservation relates to the universe's matter-antimatter imbalance. Further confirmation of this gluon role could rewrite physics textbooks. π€―