A detection unit of the Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT) is seen before being placed on the Mediterranean Sea floor. CNN
A team of researchers has detected the most powerful cosmic "ghost particle" ever recorded, using a large network of underwater sensors in the Mediterranean Sea. This groundbreaking discovery could provide new insights into the universe’s most extreme phenomena.
The particle, known as a neutrino, was detected by an international team of scientists working on the Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT). This vast underwater observatory is still under construction but is already making remarkable findings. Unlike other particles, neutrinos can travel across galaxies without being affected by planets, stars, or other objects. They move through space almost untouched, making them incredibly difficult to detect.
Each large detection unit contains 18 round optical modules, shown before being assembled. CNN
The detected neutrino, named KM3-230213A, carried an enormous amount of energy—about 220 million billion electron volts. To put this in perspective, it was 30,000 times more energetic than what the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s most powerful particle accelerator, can generate. Scientists believe that neutrinos like this one could be created in powerful cosmic events such as black holes, gamma-ray bursts, or supernova explosions.
According to physicist Dr. Brad K. Gibson, "The energy of this single neutrino is equivalent to the energy released by splitting a billion uranium atoms." This comparison highlights just how powerful these ghostly particles can be.
Each unit of the Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT) contains several digital optical sensors designed to detect neutrinos. CNN
Neutrinos are known for being nearly invisible, as they rarely interact with their surroundings. However, when they collide with water or ice, they release a faint blue glow. Scientists use advanced optical sensors to capture this light and trace where the neutrino came from. The detection was made on February 13, 2023, when one of KM3NeT's sensors picked up a signal deep in the ocean. The ARCA detector, located off the coast of Italy, was operating with only 10% of its planned components when it captured the high-energy neutrino.
Several detection units of the KM3NeT telescope have been placed on the Mediterranean Sea floor in recent years to aid in neutrino research. CNN
The exact origin of this neutrino remains a mystery. Researchers suspect it came from beyond the Milky Way, but they are still working to determine its precise source. The study identified 12 potential blazars—extremely bright galactic centers powered by black holes—as possible origins. However, further investigation is needed to confirm this.
Neutrinos are valuable to astronomers because they can help trace the sources of cosmic rays, the most energetic particles in the universe. These cosmic rays constantly bombard Earth, but their origins remain unknown. Studying neutrinos could help solve this puzzle.
KM3NeT is still being expanded, with more sensors set to be deployed in the coming years. Scientists hope this will improve their ability to detect and study high-energy neutrinos. The discovery of KM3-230213A marks an exciting step forward in neutrino research and opens new possibilities for exploring the universe.
