AXION
What does "AXION" mean?
A hypothetical low-mass elementary particle proposed in particle physics and dark-matter theory.
Meanings
- A hypothesized very light, weakly interacting particle, proposed to solve a problem in the strong nuclear force and considered a candidate for dark matter. Several experiments are hunting for the axion as a component of dark matter. technical
Did you know?
- The axion is named after laundry detergent: physicist Frank Wilczek chose the brand name in 1978 because the proposed particle 'cleaned up' a stubborn problem in the theory of the strong force.
- Never yet detected, the axion does double duty in physics: it was invented to fix the 'strong CP problem', and if it exists in the right form, it could also be the dark matter holding galaxies together.
Word origin
Coined by physicist Frank Wilczek, who named the particle after a brand of laundry detergent, because it would 'clean up' a problem in the theory of the strong force.
Remember it
AXION is the AXIS-sounding particle physicists hope will let the cosmos balance - named, oddly, after a detergent that 'cleans up'.
A little poem
A particle named for soap, still unseen,
asked to hold the dark weight of the galaxies-
we name our hopes before we find them.
tercet
Wordplay
- Physicists named a dark-matter particle after laundry detergent. It's the only thing in the universe that's both invisible and supposed to clean up a mess.
What it teaches
We name our missing pieces before we find them; the right question can outlive the wait for its answer.
Quick facts
What does AXION mean?
A hypothetical low-mass elementary particle proposed in particle physics and dark-matter theory.
Is AXION a valid word?
Yes — AXION is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is AXION?
AXION has 5 letters and 3 syllables.
Where does AXION come from?
Coined by physicist Frank Wilczek, who named the particle after a brand of laundry detergent, because it would 'clean up' a problem in the theory of the strong force.
What can AXION teach us?
We name our missing pieces before we find them; the right question can outlive the wait for its answer.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.