Subscribe now

Columnist and Physics

Why particle physicists are going wild for a record-breaking neutrino

Last month's discovery of the most energetic neutrino yet detected is incredibly exciting for us particle physicists – but it also raises many questions, says Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

By Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

19 March 2025

Visual impression of the ultra-high energy neutrino event observed in KM3NeT/ARCA. The colours indicate the light seen by the ?eyes? on each module, where the different colours represent different observation times. The almost horizontally reconstructed track of the particle is shown as a line from right to left. Courtesy KM3NeT.

A visual impression of the ultra-high energy neutrino event observed by scientists at the European Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT)

KM3NeT

If you have ever eaten a banana, then you have consumed an active radiation source. They are rich in potassium, a small fraction of which is the naturally occurring radioactive isotope 40K (potassium-40). While this might sound scary, the levels are safe for human consumption, and they have a fun side effect: neutrinos. Beta decay, one of the ways unstable atoms can undergo radioactive decay, converts the potassium into calcium with a side helping of elementary particles: an…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox! We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop