Neutrinos: The Ghost Particles That Make Up Our Universe

Abstract

In the field of particle astrophysics, scientists are trying to understand how the universe started and how it works at a very basic level. Using particles from astrophysics sources, we study the laws of physics at the smallest possible scale of matter and develop mathematical formulas that describe how elementary particles interact with each other to make up our universe. My colleagues and I have been studying neutrinos—one of the fundamental building blocks of the universe. That helps us understand how the universe has evolved since it began with the Big Bang some 13.8 billion years ago. In this article, I will tell you about the “ghost particles” called neutrinos—what they are, how we measure them, and why our discovery required a major change in our measurement methods. In this process, you will get to see how the most elusive elements around us are sometimes among the most important.