A "sacrilegious" physics theory could change everything scientists know about one of the basic building blocks of the universe, an Adelaide researcher says.
An experiment in the US, involving a scientist from the University of Adelaide, is now underway to prove the structure of protons can change inside the nucleus of an atom under certain conditions.
If proved correct, the theory could rewrite scientists' understanding of nuclear physics, University of Adelaide physics professor Anthony Thomas says.
"For many scientists, the idea that the internal structure of protons might change under certain circumstances can seem absurd, even sacrilegious," he said on Wednesday.
"To others like myself, evidence of this internal change is highly sought after and would help to explain some of the inconsistencies in theoretical physics."
While there are no immediate real-world applications, the ramifications for the scientific world are significant, Prof Thomas said.
"This is about as high stakes as it gets in science. It could represent a new paradigm for nuclear physics."
