particles

There are significantly more studies on microplastics, as the particles are larger and could therefore be studied by a large number of institutions for some time.

"It seems almost impossible to have a consistent theory of gravity combined with quantum mechanics that does not have particles like the axion," Safdi said.

Presumably it consists of some new type of particle, and for decades physicists have hunted in vain for the prime suspect, weakly interacting massive particles.

Inspired by foods like chia seeds, which are naturally enveloped in a soft, gel-like layer, the researchers encapsulated pea cell-wall fibers in a gel that forms a soft coating around the fiber particles.

The study also provided new upper limits on the mass of neutrinos, the only fundamental particles whose masses have not yet been precisely measured.