Archive

Neutrinos 101

Learn more about the invisible particles constantly streaming through us all.

Illustration: A scientist studies the forms before her without realizing the forms behind her

03/07/23

Do hidden influences give neutrinos their tiny mass?

The quest to understand the small mass of neutrinos is also a quest to discover new particles.

Illustration of a person measuring a "Supernova" car with a measuring tape

01/24/23

Ways to weigh a neutrino

For decades scientists have tried to find a way to measure the mass of the lightest matter particle known to exist. Three new approaches now have a chance to succeed.

Illustration of a scientist holding a bunch of balloons, one of which is different from the others

08/04/22

Why aren’t neutrinos adding up?

Physicists take on the mystery of the missing (and extra) neutrinos.

Illustration: Neutrinos revealed in particle physics advent calendar with scientists eyeing another possibility

08/17/21

The search for the sterile neutrino

Back when it was theorized, scientists weren’t sure they would ever detect the neutrino; now they’re searching for a version of the particle that could be even more elusive.

05/13/21

Which neutrino is the heaviest?

The question may seem simple, but physicists don’t yet know the answer. New measurements aim to change that.

The LBNF beamline will use a one-megawatt capable focusing horn to direct the charged particles that become neutrinos.

11/13/19

How do you make the world’s most powerful neutrino beam?

DUNE will need lots of neutrinos—and to make them, scientists and engineers will use extreme versions of some common sounding ingredients: magnets and pencil lead.

view full collection

07/13/20

More than 3000 scientists gather online for Neutrino 2020

A dash of virtual reality helps replicate the serendipitous interactions of an in-person conference when participants are scattered across the globe.

Two construction workers in a tunnel below ground

06/24/20

DUNE moves to the next stage with a blast

Construction workers have carried out the first underground blasting for the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility, which will provide the space, infrastructure and particle beam for the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment.

04/15/20

T2K advances investigation of matter-antimatter imbalance

New results from the T2K experiment in Japan rule out with 99.7% confidence nearly half of the possible range of values that could indicate how neutrinos behave compared to their antimatter counterparts.

01/09/20

Expanding a neutrino hunt in the South Pole

A forthcoming upgrade to the IceCube detector will provide deeper insights into the elusive particles.

11/13/19

How do you make the world’s most powerful neutrino beam?

DUNE will need lots of neutrinos—and to make them, scientists and engineers will use extreme versions of some common sounding ingredients: magnets and pencil lead.

10/14/19

DUNE scientists see particle tracks with dual-phase technology

Scientists working at CERN have started tests of a new neutrino detector prototype that uses a promising technology called “dual phase.”

08/01/19

Powered by pixels

An innovative use of pixel technology is making liquid-argon neutrino detectors even better.

01/25/19

Video: Particle tracks recorded by ProtoDUNE

This 3-D display shows a particle event at ProtoDUNE. The video shows the full size of the ProtoDUNE-SP detector (white box) and the direction of the particle beam (yellow arrow).

A figure is silhouetted in the opening of a gold-colored room.

01/25/19

Success after a three-year sprint

After a rush to start up the first large prototype detector, stellar results show the technology for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment is ready to shine.

Three physicists with their hair covered stand at the corner of a 4-by-4-meter frame laid flat on a surface

12/17/18

First critical components arrive for SBND

International collaborators are delivering parts to be used in Fermilab's Short-Baseline Neutrino program.

Illustration of an explorer following steps down into the Standard Model

10/25/18

Already beyond the Standard Model

We already know neutrinos break the mold of the Standard Model. The question is: By how much?

Three horizontal tracks on a blue background

09/18/18

First particle tracks seen at ProtoDUNE

CERN and Fermilab announce a big step forward for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment.

Photograph of people working on the 25-foot thermometer while it is secured to a table horizontally

09/11/18

A 25-foot thermometer for neutrino science

This instrument developed for DUNE can take 48 temperatures simultaneously and with expert precision.

The second silver module of the ICARUS detector is lowered into its container.

08/16/18

ICARUS neutrino detector installed at Fermilab

With this move, ICARUS now sits in the path of Fermilab's neutrino beam, a milestone that brings the detector one step closer to taking data.

08/16/18

Video: ICARUS neutrino detector installed at Fermilab

Silhouette of a person working in a golden-hued room.

08/07/18

A dual-phase DUNE

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment is advancing technology commonly used in dark matter experiments—and scaling it up to record-breaking sizes.