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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Shaheena Uddin

The huge liquid dome that could unlock the universe’s secrets

  • Scientists are studying mysterious "ghost particles" known as neutrinos, which are neutral sub-atomic particles that can pass freely through matter.
  • A new futuristic underground observatory in China is utilising a liquid dome containing 20,000 tonnes of liquid scintillator to contain and observe these elusive particles.
  • Neutrinos, fed from nearby nuclear power stations, collide with protons in the scintillator, producing approximately 50 recordable flashes daily, which are remotely monitored.
  • Physicists, including Wang Yifang from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, aim to determine the hierarchy of neutrino mass, which could significantly advance understanding of particle physics, cosmology, and the universe.
  • This research, expected to yield statistically significant data within six years, could help unlock major scientific mysteries, such as the imbalance between matter and anti-matter.

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