naturon

Naturon is a hypothetical elementary particle proposed in speculative physics and in science fiction as the carrier of a proposed natural force that underpins certain spontaneous processes in matter and information. In these frameworks, naturons would be mediators of 'naturalness' and could interact only weakly with standard-model particles. Naturon is not part of the Standard Model and has no experimental confirmation.

Etymology and concept: The name naturon combines the word natural with the -on suffix common to many particle names. The idea is used as a conceptual tool to discuss how nature maintains stability and coherence across scales, rather than as an established physical entity.

Theoretical properties and variants: Descriptions of naturon vary between models. Common features include a bosonic character, very low mass or near-massless, and weak couplings to ordinary matter. Some variants allow multiple naturon types, momentum-dependent interactions, or mediation of a speculative natural force aligned with symmetry principles or conservation laws related to natural processes.

Status and criticism: There is no experimental evidence for naturons, and mainstream physics regards the concept as speculative. Critics argue that it lacks unique predictions beyond broader new-physics frameworks and that existing precision tests constrain new light bosons with natural-like couplings.

In culture and science fiction: Naturons appear in fictional settings as energy carriers or catalysts for self-organizing phenomena, illustrating ideas about nature's hidden structures.

See also: neutrino, boson, hypothetical particle, naturalness.