proton decay

Proton decay is a theoretical process where a proton, a fundamental particle in atoms, transforms into lighter particles over an extremely long timescale, effectively disappearing. While protons are considered stable in everyday matter, certain advanced physics models predict they can eventually decay, implying that all ordinary matter could eventually break down. Detecting proton decay would provide crucial insights into unifying fundamental forces and understanding the universe's stability. However, it has not yet been observed, and its potential occurrence remains a key area of research in particle physics.