Particle physicist Kirsty Duffy said the properties and origins of neutrinos were discussed in a recent episode of the Royal Institution’s Ri Science Podcast.
Understanding these particles is critical because they may hold the answers to fundamental questions about the universe that remain unsolved in standard physics.
Neutrinos are often described as ghost particles due to their nearly weightless nature and their ability to pass through matter undetected. According to research, trillions of neutrinos pass through a human body every second [1]. Because they rarely interact with other matter, they are exceptionally difficult to detect and study.
These particles originate from a variety of sources across the cosmos and on Earth. They are produced in the sun, the center of the Earth, and during supernovae [2]. In some cases, they are even produced in beer [2].
During the podcast, Duffy said why neutrinos are a crucial yet little-taught component of particle physics. The Royal Institution said in its description that neutrinos are the most important particle people were never taught about [3].
The discussion focused on how current research projects aim to unlock the secrets of these particles. By studying the way neutrinos behave and travel, physicists hope to uncover new laws of nature that could redefine the current understanding of the physical world.
The Ri Science Podcast releases new episodes on the last Wednesday of each month [4].
“Trillions of neutrinos pass through your body every second.”
The focus on neutrinos represents a shift toward studying the 'invisible' sectors of particle physics to find anomalies. Because neutrinos do not follow all the standard rules of matter interaction, they serve as a primary tool for scientists attempting to find physics beyond the Standard Model, potentially explaining the asymmetry of matter and antimatter in the early universe.
