Scientists have discovered a massive neutrino, the most energetic ever recorded, hurtling towards Earth from deep space. The detection was made by an undersea detector off Sicily’s coast on February 13, 2023. The particle’s energy is estimated to be 220 petaelectronvolts (PeV), far exceeding previous records.
This unprecedented energy level suggests that the source could be a blazar, a supermassive black hole actively firing radiation at Earth. Alternatively, it might be the first known cosmogenic neutrino, generated by cosmic rays interacting with photons from the Big Bang’s background radiation.
Neutrinos are tiny particles with no electric charge, passing through our bodies daily without interaction. Detecting them requires collecting large volumes of materials like water or ice and observing telltale flashes of light resulting from their interactions.
The detected neutrino was recorded by a Cubic Kilometer Neutrino Telescope array 3,450 meters below the Mediterranean Sea’s surface. The team identified 12 potential blazars in that region but emphasizes the need for further investigations to determine the source.
A cosmogenic origin is also possible and would mark a groundbreaking discovery if confirmed. Further research will be necessary to resolve the mystery of this record-breaking neutrino event.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/record-breaking-neutrino-from-deep-space-spotted-by-undersea-telescope