| in Interesting Facts Of Science
A boson cousin might be found in the Earth's mantle.
In 2013, scientists detailed mapped the Earth's magnetic field before looking at subatomic particles to discover how electrons trapped in the Earth's mantle influenced their spins. Their research revealed indications of a new basic natural force (after electromagnetism, gravity, and the strong and weak nuclear forces). If the force exists, one plausible explanation is the presence of the Z' (pronounced "Z-prime"), a Z boson relative that sustains the weak nuclear force.