Muons: Emblems of discovery

In a Symmetry Magazine article, scientists reflect on the muon—a short-lived cousin of the electron whose unexpected discovery reshaped modern particle physics. Produced when cosmic rays strike Earth’s atmosphere, muons constantly pass through matter, making them powerful tools for both fundamental research and practical applications, from probing the Standard Model to imaging the interiors of large structures. Decades after their discovery, muons continue to test the limits of existing theories and point toward possible new physics. This enduring role as both a puzzle and a probe underscores the kind of foundational inquiry pursued by researchers such as Nathaniel Craig, a 2025 Blavatnik Award National finalist, whose work engages with the open questions that particles like the muon continue to raise. Read the article here.