Cosmic rays can help detect how tornadot is formed

illustrated map of atmospheric river over California in 2023

Supercell’s storms are known for their devastating tornados of gnarly, but exactly how twisties are formed is poorly understood. A new study suggests that scientists could collect suggestions with a little help from the cosmos. Muons, subatomic particles that are like severe versions of electrons, can detect atmospheric pressure within a storm and the resulting … Read more

A small neutrino detector scored great in a nuclear reactor

illustrated map of atmospheric river over California in 2023

A small neutrino detector has found its base in a fresh environment – in a nuclear reactor. Conventional subatomic particle detectors require metric tone of material. But the new detector has a mass less than 3 pounds. Think Chihuahua. And he successfully discovered Antineutrinos, Neutrino antimatter counterparts, transmitting from a nuclear power plant in Leibstadt, … Read more

Quantum mechanics was born 100 years ago. Physicists are celebrating

illustrated map of atmospheric river over California in 2023

A century ago, science went quantum. To celebrate, physicists are throwing a global celebration, one year old. In 1925, quantum mechanics, the scientific theory describing the vague rules of very small degrees, began to crystallize in the minds of physicists. Starting from that year, a series of monumental letters determined the frame of theory. Quantum … Read more