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Record-breaking neutrino detected by huge underwater telescope

2025/2/12

Nature Podcast

AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript

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Art Heibel

Benjamin Thompson

Dan Fox

Max Kozlov

Noah Baker

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Dan Fox: 宇宙望远镜不仅可以观测光波,还可以观测粒子,例如超新星爆发时飞出的粒子。中微子几乎不与任何物质相互作用,因此能够携带宇宙实验室的秘密到达地球。为了捕捉这些难以捉摸的中微子,科学家们在地中海深处放置了巨大的探测器阵列,而KM3Net实验捕捉到了一种非常特殊的中微子。 Art Heibel: KM3Net望远镜通过观测粒子而非光来获取宇宙信息。探测器由大量的玻璃球组成,放置在地中海海底三公里深处。中微子很难被探测到,因为它们几乎不与任何物质相互作用。当探测器附近或内部的中微子与水分子相互作用时,会产生次级粒子并发出光。通过测量光的到达时间,可以确定次级粒子的方向和类型。中微子产生的μ子与宇宙射线产生的μ子不同,后者无法穿透数百公里的水。这次探测到的中微子是迄今为止能量最高的中微子,能量高达100拍电子伏特,远超之前探测到的中微子,大约是之前最高能量中微子的30到40倍。产生如此高能量中微子的可能是活跃星系核等天体。虽然目前无法确定这次中微子的确切来源,但未来可能会找到答案。这次中微子也可能是宇宙源中微子,即来自宇宙微波背景辐射的相互作用。这次探测到的中微子可能是偶然事件,未来十年将验证这一点。预计每70年才能探测到一次如此高能量的中微子。这次发现将帮助科学家研究宇宙中最强大的粒子加速过程,并深入研究活跃星系核等天体。KM3Net实验还希望研究超新星遗迹等银河系内的中微子源。

Deep Dive

Chapters

The KM3Net experiment, an underwater telescope in the Mediterranean Sea, detected the highest-energy neutrino ever recorded. The neutrino's energy is over 30 times higher than previously recorded neutrinos, and its origin is uncertain, but potentially linked to active galactic nuclei or cosmogenic sources. Further research is needed to pinpoint the exact source and understand such high energy phenomena.

Highest-energy neutrino detected by KM3Net underwater telescope
Energy over 30 times higher than previous detections
Origin uncertain, possibly active galactic nuclei or cosmogenic neutrinos
Detector uses light sensors to detect muon created by neutrino interaction

Shownotes Transcript

In this episode:

00:45 An elusive, cosmic neutrino with a record-breaking energy

An enormous array of detectors, deep under the Mediterranean Sea, has captured evidence of the highest-energy neutrino particle ever recorded, although researchers aren’t sure exactly where in the cosmos it originated. Calculations revealed this particle had over 30 times the energy of previously detected neutrinos. The team hopes that further study and future detections will help reveal the secrets of high-energy phenomena like supernovae.

Research Article: The KM3NeT Collaboration)

11:34 Research Highlights

How bonobos adjust their communication to account for what other individuals know, and the discovery of a huge collection of beads adorning the attire of the powerful Copper Age women in Spain.

Research Highlight: Bonobos know when you’re in the know ― and when you’re not)

Research Highlight: Record-setting trove of buried beads speaks to power of ancient women)

14:15 US judge puts NIH grant cuts on hold

A judge has blocked a policy that would have slashed billions of dollars of funding for US research institutions, which come as part of President Donald Trump’s controversial crackdown on government spending. We discuss the reasoning behind the proposed cuts and the impacts they may have if enacted. We also look at the effects that President Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies and funding are having across the US.

Nature: ‘Devastating’ cuts to NIH grants by Trump’s team put on hold by US judge)

Nature: Have Trump’s anti-DEI orders hit private funders? HHMI halts inclusive science programme)

Nature: Scientists globally are racing to save vital health databases taken down amid Trump chaos)

25:50 Briefing Chat

Why the latest odds on asteroid 2024 YR4’s chance of impacting Earth are so hard to calculate, and how the latest version of DeepMind's AlphaGeometry AI has reached the gold-medal level in geometry.

New York Times: Why the Odds of an Asteroid Striking Earth in 2032 Keep Going Up (and Down))

Nature: DeepMind AI crushes tough maths problems on par with top human solvers)

Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy) for more information.

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