Gluons Identified as Key to Proton Identity and Baryon Number Conservation

Research from the STAR detector at RHIC suggests gluons are crucial for baryon number conservation, a fundamental aspect of a proton's identity. Published in Science, the findings challenge the previous understanding that only quarks carry baryon number, proposing a 'gluon junction' as the primary carrier. This discovery significantly impacts our understanding of proton and atomic stability, as well as the universe's matter-antimatter asymmetry.