Neutrinos, typically denoted by the Greek letter Nu, are elusive particles that are formed during such cataclysmic cosmic events as exploding stars and colliding galaxies. Most of these tiny particles have been floating around for billions of years, while others are being produced every day by the sun, nuclear power stations, the birth or death of stars, and many other sources.
Although they are one of the fundamental particles of our universe, neutrinos are extremely difficult to detect. Neutrinos are similar to electrons; however, unlike electrons, neutrinos do not carry an electric charge, which is why they can pass through great distances and objects – from other planets to the human body. In fact, it’s been estimated that more than 50 trillion neutrinos from the sun pass through your body every second!
Because they have no charge and thus interact only weakly with other particles, neutrinos are difficult to detect as they whiz through the universe at the speed of light. A neutrino typically will travel many light years before interacting with anything. That’s why it takes such large and sensitive telescopes to stand a shot at detecting them.
University of Delawere
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