The eta meson is a type of subatomic particle known as a meson, which is made up of a quark and an antiquark. It is part of the pion family and has a neutral charge. The eta meson is relatively short-lived, decaying into other particles within a fraction of a second after being produced in high-energy collisions. Discovered in the 1960s, the eta meson plays a significant role in particle physics, helping scientists understand the strong force that binds quarks together. Its properties, such as mass and decay modes, provide valuable insights into the behavior of fundamental particles and the interactions that govern the universe.