text: Strange quarks are naturally radioactive and decay by weak interactions into lighter quarks on a timescale that is extremely long compared with the nuclear-collision times. This makes it relatively easy to detect strange particles through the tracks left by their decay products. Consider as an example the decay of a negatively charged  baryon (green in figure, dss), into a negative pion (d) and a neutral  (uds) baryon. Subsequently, the  decays into a proton and another negative pion. In general this is the signature of the decay of a . Although the negative  (sss) baryon has a similar final state decay topology, it can be clearly distinguished from the  because its decay products are different.
  Measurement of abundant formation of  (uss/dss),  (sss) and especially their antiparticles is an important cornerstone of the claim that quark–gluon plasma has been formed. This abundant formation is often presented in comparison with the scaled expectation from normal proton–proton collisions; however, such a comparison is not a necessary step in view of the large absolute yields which defy conventional model expectations. The overall yield of strangeness is also larger than expected if the new form of matter has been achieved. However, considering that the light quarks are also produced in gluon fusion processes, one expects increased production of all hadrons. The study of the relative yields of strange and non strange particles provides information about the competition of these processes and thus the reaction mechanism of particle production.