Rare B-meson decays spark potential new physics beyond the Standard Model
LHCb’s study of a rare penguin decay—B mesons decaying to a kaon and two muons—shows angular distributions that differ from Standard Model predictions at about 4 sigma, hinting that new particles could enter the decay loop. Possible explanations include a heavier Z’ boson or leptoquarks, with CMS hinting at a compatible but less significant signal. The analysis uses ~650 billion decays from 2011–2018, making this one of the most intriguing LHC anomalies, though it could still be affected by charming-penguin effects. Further data are needed to confirm any new physics.
