Scientists say they have discovered two new subatomic particles never seen before that could widen our understanding of the universe.

An experiment using the European Organisation for Nuclear Research's Large Hadron Collider said the particles are baryons, which could sharpen the picture of how things work beyond the "Standard Model" physics theory explaining the basic building blocks of matter.

In a statement, officials at the lab in Geneva known by its French acronym Cern, announced the discovery of the baryons made from three quarks bound together by a strong force.

Cern-based physicist Patrick Koppenburg said the study, using data taken during 2011 and 2012, could help differentiate between Standard Model effects and "anything new or unexpected in the future".

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