Scientists reported on Wednesday that a neutrino detector in the Mediterranean Sea has detected the most energetic neutrino ever found. According to Rosa Coniglione, a researcher involved in the discovery, this newly detected neutrino is around 30 times more active than the previous record-holder.
The source of the newly discovered neutrino is believed to be outside the Milky Way, but its exact origin remains unknown. This discovery highlights that the study of neutrinos is still developing, as scientists seek to understand cosmic events.
Neutrinos are subatomic particles that rarely interact with ordinary matter, making them incredibly difficult to detect. They are produced in various cosmic events, such as supernova explosions and gamma-ray bursts. The detection of this highly energetic neutrino opens a new chapter in neutrino astronomy and provides valuable insights into the mechanisms involved in the most energetic phenomena in the universe.
The research team used the Kilometer Cubic Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT), located deep in the Mediterranean Sea, to detect this extraordinary event. The detector, which is still under construction, consists of two sites: Astroparticle Research with Cosmics in the Abyss (ARCA) and Oscillation Research with Cosmics in the Abyss (ORCA). The ARCA detector made the detection of this neutrino, designated KM3-230213A, possible.
This groundbreaking discovery signals the dawn of an exciting new era for cosmic exploration, as scientists continue to probe the farthest reaches of the universe and uncover the secrets of these elusive particles.
