# Scientists detect signals at the smallest scale ever explored

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/scientists-detect-signals-at-the-smallest-scale-ever-explored/
- Published: 2026-11-03T06:01:23+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-03T07:41:21+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Science (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5pvgxkkv4dzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Research, Science

## Key points

- Scientists observed particle interactions at a record-small scale.
- The findings may help researchers investigate dark matter.
- UK funding cuts put involvement in a detector upgrade at risk.

## Summary

Researchers have detected particle interactions at a scale around 100 billion times smaller than an atom, a realm some physicists call the “zeptoverse”. The result, from the Large Hadron Collider, could help scientists investigate dark matter and develop a more complete account of how the Universe works.

The Cambridge-led team studied beauty quarks, which decay after about one and a half trillionths of a second, and observed their interactions at a billion-trillionth of a metre. Scientists say more data is needed to look for possible new particles; an agreed £150m upgrade to the detector would increase the frequency of the relevant decays tenfold. The UK has withdrawn its share of funding for the upgrade, raising concerns that British researchers could miss discoveries and training opportunities, while some early-career scientists are considering work abroad.

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