Physicists have discovered an unexpected order within the seemingly chaotic environment of high-energy proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), according to a study released January 5, 2026, by the Henryk Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences. The research challenges previous assumptions about the transition of quarks and gluons into ordinary particles after a collision, revealing that the entropy, or degree of disorder, remains constant throughout the process.

The findings stem from an improved collision model that more accurately reflects experimental data from the LHC. Researchers had anticipated that the transition from a dense, boiling state of quarks and gluons to ordinary particles would alter the system's entropy. However, the new model demonstrates that the entropy of the interacting quarks and gluons is virtually identical to the entropy of the hadrons, composite subatomic particles, that emerge from the collision.

"This unexpected result turns out to be a direct fingerprint of quantum mechanics at work," the institute stated in its release. The constant entropy suggests that quantum mechanics plays a more significant role in these high-energy interactions than previously understood.

High-energy proton collisions, such as those occurring at the LHC, create an extreme environment where quarks and gluons, the fundamental building blocks of matter, are briefly liberated from protons. This creates a roiling sea of particles, including short-lived virtual particles. Understanding this process is crucial for probing the fundamental forces of nature and the structure of matter.

The improved collision model incorporates advanced algorithms and computational techniques to simulate the complex interactions within the proton collisions. This allows physicists to analyze the data with greater precision and identify subtle patterns that were previously obscured. The fact that the model aligns so closely with experimental data lends strong support to the conclusion that entropy remains unchanged.

The implications of this discovery extend beyond fundamental physics. Understanding the dynamics of high-energy collisions can potentially inform advancements in other fields, such as materials science and nuclear energy. The ability to accurately model these complex systems relies heavily on sophisticated AI algorithms, which are continuously being refined to improve the accuracy and efficiency of simulations.

The researchers plan to further refine the collision model and explore the implications of constant entropy in other high-energy physics experiments. They also aim to investigate the role of quantum entanglement in maintaining order within these chaotic environments. The ongoing research promises to shed further light on the fundamental laws governing the universe and the role of quantum mechanics in shaping the behavior of matter at its most basic level.