The weak nuclear force, also known as the weak interaction, is one of the four fundamental forces in nature. It is responsible for processes like beta decay, where a neutron in an atomic nucleus transforms into a proton, emitting an electron and an antineutrino. This force operates at very short ranges, typically less than the size of an atomic nucleus. Unlike the strong nuclear force, which holds protons and neutrons together, the weak nuclear force plays a crucial role in the stability of matter and the formation of elements in stars. It involves particles called W and Z bosons, which mediate the interactions between particles during weak processes.