[smokingfrog]

Surprise to physicists – protons aren't always shaped like a basketball

The shape of a proton depends on the speed of the quarks inside. The spherical shape is the shape most physicists expected to find. The peanut shape is produced by quarks traveling nearly at light speed and spinning the same direction as the proton.

[dr_who]

Actually, protons are shaped like soccer balls.

[dr_who]

...and —most importantly— those aren’t quarks inside the protons and neutrons. They’re frosted lucky charms.

[dr_who]

Here's a picture of the universe 3.1E-13 seconds after the big bang:

[smokingfrog]

A proton at rest can be shaped like a ball — the expected shape and the only one described in physics textbooks. Or it can be shaped like a peanut, like a rugby ball or even something similar to a bagel.

[UCANSEE2]

The peanut shape is produced by quarks traveling nearly at light speed and spinning the same direction as the proton.