Neutrinos
Why in news :
- An experiment in Japan recently reported that it failed to find “strong evidence” regarding the fact that neutrinos are their own anti-particles ruling out a few theories trying to explain neutrinos’ many mysterious properties.
- Every elementary particle has an antiparticle. If the two meet, they will destroy each other in a flash of energy.
- The electron’s antiparticle is the positron.
- They can be distinguished because they have opposite charges.
- Similarly, neutrinos have antineutrinos.
More about Neutrinos :
- Neutrinos are the second most abundant particles in the cosmos.
- Because they are so ubiquitous, their properties have an important influence on the structure of the universe.
- Neutrinos are the most abundant particles that have mass in the universe.
- Every time atomic nuclei come together (like in the sun) or break apart (like in a nuclear reactor), they produce neutrinos.
- Even a banana emits neutrinos—they come from the natural radioactivity of the potassium in the fruit.
- Once produced, these ghostly particles almost never interact with other matter.
Syllabus : Prelims; Science and Technology
