In a groundbreaking discovery that sheds light on the fundamental building blocks of matter, researchers have uncovered how delicate atomic nuclei form under extreme conditions that previously seemed impossible.

Scientists at CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have now explained how deuterons -- tiny atomic nuclei containing just one proton and one neutron -- emerge during high-energy particle collisions. Their research, published in Nature, reveals that these fragile structures are created through a complex process involving extremely short-lived, high-energy particle states called resonances.

The research team, led by Prof. Laura Fabbietti from the Technical University of Munich, discovered that approximately 90 percent of deuterons and antideuterons form through a previously unknown mechanism. Under temperatures more than 100,000 times hotter than the Sun's core, these light atomic nuclei should theoretically disintegrate almost instantly. Yet, experiments consistently detected their presence, prompting a deeper scientific investigation.

'Our result is an important step toward understanding the strong interaction -- the fundamental force binding protons and neutrons together in atomic nuclei,' explained Prof. Fabbietti. The measurements conclusively demonstrate that light nuclei do not form during the initial, scorching collision phase, but emerge later when conditions become more stable.

Dr. Maximilian Mahlein, a researcher at Fabbietti's Chair for Dense and Strange Hadronic Matter, emphasized the broader implications of their work. 'Our discovery is significant not only for fundamental nuclear physics research but could also provide insights into cosmic ray interactions and potentially offer clues about mysterious dark matter,' he noted.

The breakthrough was made possible by ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment), a sophisticated particle tracking system capable of reconstructing up to 2000 particles from a single collision. Located in a 27-kilometer underground ring near Geneva, the LHC recreates conditions similar to those moments after the Big Bang, allowing scientists to explore matter at its most fundamental level.

This research is part of the larger ORIGINS Cluster of Excellence, which studies the universe's structural development from the smallest particles to complex biological systems. The cluster's interdisciplinary approach, recently approved for a second funding phase, continues to push the boundaries of our understanding of cosmic origins and fundamental physical interactions.

As scientists continue to unravel the mysteries of particle physics, discoveries like these not only expand our scientific knowledge but also offer profound insights into the intricate mechanisms that shape our universe at its most fundamental level.