China’s ‘ghost particle’ machine could solve science’s greatest mysteries
The huge liquid dome that could unlock the universe’s secrets
- Scientists are studying mysterious "ghost particles" known as neutrinos, which are neutral sub-atomic particles that can pass freely through matter.
- A new futuristic underground observatory in China is utilising a liquid dome containing 20,000 tonnes of liquid scintillator to contain and observe these elusive particles.
- Neutrinos, fed from nearby nuclear power stations, collide with protons in the scintillator, producing approximately 50 recordable flashes daily, which are remotely monitored.
- Physicists, including Wang Yifang from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, aim to determine the hierarchy of neutrino mass, which could significantly advance understanding of particle physics, cosmology, and the universe.
- This research, expected to yield statistically significant data within six years, could help unlock major scientific mysteries, such as the imbalance between matter and anti-matter.