China's "ghost particle" machine could unlock the secrets of the universe

Physicists have been baffled for years by the discovery of mysterious "ghost particles."

These neutral subatomic particles, which have no electrical charge, are scientifically known as "neutrinos." Unable to be captured by electric or magnetic forces, these particles can easily pass through physical matter. Particle physicists hope to uncover hidden scientific secrets by observing these elusive particles using a new liquid dome in a futuristic underground observatory in the hills of China.

According to Independent Turkish, the sphere houses 20,000 tons of a substance known as a liquid scintillator, while neutrinos are constantly supplied underground by two nearby nuclear power plants. The entire spherical structure, covered in a thin layer of acrylic, is enclosed in a protective cylinder filled with 45,000 tons of pure water.

When neutrinos collide with protons in the scintillator, they emit tiny but recordable flashes—about 50 per day. Scientists around the world are remotely monitoring, measuring, and sorting the neutrinos by mass.

Wang Yifang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who collaborates with 700 physicists worldwide, told The Times:

We will learn the hierarchy of neutrino mass and from this we can create a model for particle physics, neutrinos and cosmology.

Neutrinos are the most abundant particles in the universe because they can be produced by the fusion of stars in supernova explosions. Wang says this research on subatomic particles could contribute to "our understanding of the universe."

The scientist estimates that it would take only 6 years to produce 100,000 flashes at a rate of 50 per day and obtain statistically significant readings.

Neutrinos were first predicted in 1930 by Austrian physicist Wolfgang Pauli. Pauli theorized that a particle with no electric charge or mass could pass freely through matter might exist. According to research, approximately 100 trillion neutrinos pass through our bodies every second. Upon this discovery, Pauli stated, "I did something terrible. I postulated an undetectable particle."

The physicist bet a case of champagne that no one would ever catch a neutrino. A quarter of a century later, he lost the bet.

We now know that there are three types of neutrinos—electron, muon, and tau—and that each can transform into another. By analyzing them, scientists may find the key to solving some of science's biggest mysteries, like why there's more matter than antimatter.