The Muon g-2 experiment involves sending the particles around a 14-metre ring and then applying a magnetic field. Under the current laws of physics, encoded in the Standard Model, this should make the muons wobble at a certain rate.

The Muon g-2 Ring. Source: Reidar Hahn/Fermilab, via U.S. Department of Energy

Instead, the scientists found that muons wobbled at a faster rate than expected. This might be caused by a force of nature that’s completely new to science.

There are already four known forces that govern the way life works – gravity, electromagnetism, the strong force, and the weak force.

Although a fifth force is being hinted at, what it might do is still a mystery.

Prof Allanach, a very excited scientist watching this all unfold from Cambridge University, has already given the possible fifth force some interesting names in his theoretical models

Take your pick from the “flavour force” or the “third family hyperforce”.

In fact, theoretical physicists believe that this experiment could point to a new and undiscovered sub-atomic particle as well as a new force:

There is more than one concept for what this hypothetical particle might be. One is called a leptoquark, another is the Z’ boson (Z-prime boson).

Although, we have to catch ourselves before we get ahead of ourselves. The latest discovery, with experiments done since 2013, needs more time and effort to be vetted properly.

As stated by CNET, the wobble being a statistical fluke is about one in 40 000, “which, in science talk, equates to a confidence level of “4.1 sigma.”

Physicists usually aren’t satisfied until the confidence level reaches 5 sigma.

Here’s a video explaining more: