Z bosons are fundamental particles that mediate the weak nuclear force, one of the four fundamental forces in nature. They are electrically neutral and are responsible for processes like beta decay in atomic nuclei. Z bosons are produced in high-energy particle collisions, such as those occurring in particle accelerators like the Large Hadron Collider. Discovered in 1973, Z bosons are part of the Standard Model of particle physics, which describes how particles interact. Each Z boson has a mass about 91 times that of a proton, making them relatively heavy. Their existence helps scientists understand the behavior of subatomic particles and the forces that govern them.