In an enormous cavern, 700m (almost 2,300ft) beneath a wooded hill in southern China, an extraordinary scientific instrument is being built. The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), a 20,000-tonne (almost 19,700-ton) sphere of a detector liquid surrounded by 43,000 super-sensitive light detectors, is set to probe the secrets of nature’s most elusive subatomic particle: the neutrino.
“We’ve had to overcome many difficulties and challenges in building JUNO,” says Dr Yifang Wang, the Director of the Chinese experiment, who came up with the concept and design in 2008 after reading a paper by Italian theorist Prof Serguey Petcov. “JUNO is a formidable feat of engineering,” says Prof Jennifer Thomas, a particle physicist at University College, London, who sits on the international advisory panel of the Chinese experiment. “It’s scheduled to start operating in 2025 and we’re extremely excited.”
Neutrinos are the second most common subatomic particles in the Universe after photons of light. They’re abundant in the extreme, but practically refuse to interact with any type of physical matter, hence they’re commonly referred to as ‘ghost particles’. Hold up your thumb. An astonishing 100 billion or so neutrinos are passing through your thumbnail every second. They were created by the nuclear reactions that generate sunlight. And eight and a half minutes ago they were in the heart of the Sun.
Neutrinos only interact with the atoms of matter on exceptionally rare occasions. Your thumbnail is not nearly enough to stop them in their tracks. As American novelist Michael Chabon observed: “Eight solid lightyears of lead… is the thickness of that metal in which you would need to encase yourself if you wanted to keep from being touched by neutrinos.”
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
COULD MARINE CLOUD BRIGHTENING HELP US FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE?
The theory behind marine cloud brightening is that brighter or whiter clouds reflect more sunlight back into space.
IS IT SAFE TO RUN EVERY DAY, OR SHOULD I DITCH MY RUN STREAK TO SAVE MY KNEES?
A running streak, where you run every day without taking rest days, can be highly motivating and beneficial for overall fitness. Running is great cardiovascular exercise and isn't to be discouraged (and finding a routine with some consistency is great). Getting a bit of exercise as often as possible is also hugely beneficial for your mental health.
WHAT MAKES THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET SO GOOD FOR US?
The Mediterranean diet may help you live longer, especially if you also adopt the lifestyle of people living near the Med during the 1950s.
WHAT IS MEXICO'S BLUE HOLE?
The world's deepest blue hole (marine sinkhole) lies off the coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It's at least 420m (1,378ft) deep, but explorers still haven't found its bottom.
HOW CAN I TELL IF I'VE GOT HIGH CORTISOL LEVELS?
Cortisol is a hormone produced by glands in our bodies called the adrenal glands, which sit above the kidneys. It plays a critical role in various bodily functions, including regulating metabolism, reducing inflammation and helping the body respond to stress. While essential for our health, chronic elevation of cortisol levels can lead to several issues.
THE LUNGFISH
In 1836, European scientists discovered a peculiar animal from the River Amazon that they struggled to identify. Its eel-like body was a few feet long and its air-filled lungs persuaded anatomists it must be a reptile.
ARE WE THE ONLY SPECIES TO HAVE BEEN THROUGH A STONE AGE?
The Stone Age might conjure up images of early humans, sitting around a campfire or hunting prehistoric beasts, but evidence shows that we're not the only species that has learned how to work with stone tools. Wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) use stone tools to crack open nuts.
Should we scrap daylight saving time?
Most of us look forward to the extra hour we get in bed every October, but researchers argue that changing the clocks twice a year harms our health
THE INTERNET OF ANIMALS
SCIENTISTS ARE USING ELECTRONIC TAGS AND SATELLITES TO TRACK WILD ANIMALS AND CREATE A DATA NETWORK THAT COULD HELP US ADDRESS THE BIODIVERSITY CRISIS
MUSIC FOR A DISTRACTED GENERATION
The number of things competing for our attention is often overwhelming. Can dreamy soundscapes created with neuroscience help our bewildered brains to concentrate?
