Something unusual is happening: physicists have studied particles around the Sun and uncovered new mysteries.

Physicists have analyzed data on particles and antiparticles near the Sun, collected over 11 years, leading to the discovery of new mysteries concerning the particles themselves. The research was published in the journal Physical Review Letters, reports New Scientist.

The cosmos is filled with energetic particles that move at incredible speeds, known as cosmic rays. These rays primarily consist of protons, along with a small number of helium nuclei and electrons.

When a cosmic ray strikes the detector of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) on the International Space Station (ISS), magnetic fields separate its particles based on their electric charge, and then the detector measures their masses and energy. This separation is crucial as it helps reveal differences in the behavior of a particle and its antiparticle, which are identical except for their opposite charges, physicists say.

Scientists analyzed AMS data spanning more than 11 years and found that, strangely, we know far less about the behavior of particles than previously thought. For instance, physicists discovered changes in the number of particles over time and in the ways different types of particles interact with each other. While existing models can explain these changes individually, they cannot account for both changes simultaneously.

The findings could have implications not only for individual particles. Scientists have been capturing cosmic rays with various detectors for over a century because their changing properties can serve as "archaeological records" of the history of the Solar System. However, never before has there been such a detailed understanding of how the solar cycle affects cosmic rays, physicists say.

The solar cycle lasts 11 years, so collecting data over this period captures all the recurring changes in the Sun's magnetic field that alter the behavior of cosmic rays. Such an in-depth study may unlock the key to using cosmic rays to understand the very early stages of the formation of the Solar System, scientists suggest.

But the origin of cosmic rays remains a mystery. The particles captured by AMS come from outside the Solar System. The range of details presented in the new study, including how different particle nuclei behave in cosmic rays, could help physicists determine the origins of cosmic rays.

There are also other cosmic questions that need answers. According to physicists, we do not observe antimatter in our world, so the fact that AMS can detect antiprotons is a significant mystery. The origins of these antiparticles may be linked to the enigmatic dark matter or could extend beyond our understanding of the cosmos.