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Particle that only has mass when moving in one direction observed for first time (www.psu.edu)

submitted 1 week ago by Joker@sh.itjust.works to c/science@mander.xyz

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[–] CaptSneeze@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago (2 children)

It’s been a while since I took a physics class, but I’m pretty sure everything becomes more weightless as it gets farther from a gravitational pull. Things don’t normally become more mass-less though.

Or, is this a “whoosh” moment for me?

[–] Skua@kbin.earth 4 points 1 week ago

The person you replied to said "weight", but the article - including direct quotes from the professor heading the team that found it - uses "mass" consistently.

[–] atro_city@fedia.io -1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

If a material made up of quasi-particles is massless when moving away from gravity at ground level, why is the distinction important?

[–] CaptSneeze@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

…a material that is nigh weighless when moving away from gravity but gains mass again when moving towards it.

My brain hung a bit in this statement. I suppose I incorrectly interpreted “nigh weightless” as “losing weight”, which is what everything does as it leaves a gravity well.

It’s 4am here and I’m just browsing on my way to the airport, half asleep. So, please feel free to ignore this whole thing.