Latest news with #JaretHeise
India.com
03-06-2025
- Science
- India.com
What is over 1400 scientists from 35 nations searching in three tunnels 1.5 km below earth? Answer will leave you shocked
What is over 1400 scientists from 35 nations searching in three tunnels 1.5 km below earth? Answer will leave you shocked How was the universe formed and how did the stars, planets, and even we began to exist? To find answers to these big questions, two teams of scientists one in the US and the other in Japan are racing to uncover the secrets of the universe. According to a report by BBC, both teams are using a tiny particle called a neutrino to help them solve the mystery of how everything started. Right now, the Japanese team is a few years ahead, but the American scientists are catching up fast. Why does our universe exist at all? Deep inside a laboratory located above the misty forests of South Dakota, American scientists are trying to solve one of science's biggest puzzles i.e. why does the universe even exist? Meanwhile, their Japanese counterparts are also working toward the same goal and are currently leading the race. Despite all our technological advancements, we still don't fully understand how the universe came into being or why galaxies, stars, and planets and even life itself exist. To get closer to an answer, both the American and Japanese teams are building advanced detectors designed to study neutrinos, a strange and tiny subatomic particle that might hold the key to how everything started. America's DUNE Project In South Dakota, at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), scientists have built three huge tunnels about 1,500 meters below the ground. These tunnels are so important for research that people call them a 'cathedral of science.' Here, a massive experiment called the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is taking place. More than 1,400 scientists from 35 countries are working together on this project. Dr. Jaret Heise, the director of the project, says that they're building a special detector that could completely change how we understand the universe. As part of the experiment, scientists will send powerful beams of neutrinos and antineutrinos from Illinois to South Dakota, about 800 miles away. They want to observe whether these tiny particles behave differently during their journey. If neutrinos and antineutrinos change in different ways, it might help explain one of the biggest mysteries in science: Why did matter win over antimatter after the Big Bang? Understanding this could explain why the universe—and life as we know it—exists at all. Japan's Hyper-K Project In Japan, scientists are building a new neutrino detector called Hyper-K, which is an upgraded version of their current detector, Super-K. This new setup looks like a glowing golden structure and is often described as a 'temple of science.' The Japanese team is nearly ready to launch their neutrino beam in less than three years, putting them several years ahead of the U.S.-based DUNE project. Dr. Mark Scott from Imperial College London says that because the Hyper-K detector is larger, it can collect data faster and with better accuracy. Who will win the race? Dr. Linda Cremonesi from Queen Mary University, who works on the DUNE project, believes that Japan's Hyper-K still lacks some of the technology needed to clearly detect the differences in behavior between neutrinos and antineutrinos. While both projects aim to uncover similar mysteries, having them run side by side will actually provide more detailed information. But Dr. Scott admits, 'I'd rather be the one to get the results first!' The final answers might still take a few years, but until then, the question of why and how we exist remains one of the universe's biggest puzzles. This scientific race is a major leap toward unlocking the secrets of our cosmos.
Saudi Gazette
20-05-2025
- Science
- Saudi Gazette
Scientists in a race to discover why our Universe exists
WASHINGTON — Inside a laboratory nestled above the mist of the forests of South Dakota, scientists are searching for the answer to one of science's biggest questions: why does our Universe exist? They are in a race for the answer with a separate team of Japanese scientists – who are several years ahead. The current theory of how the Universe came into being can't explain the existence of the planets, stars and galaxies we see around us. Both teams are building detectors that study a sub-atomic particle called a neutrino in the hope of finding answers. The US-led international collaboration is hoping the answer lies deep underground, in the aptly named Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (Dune). The scientists will travel 1,500 meters below the surface into three vast underground caverns. Such is the scale that construction crews and their bulldozers seem like small plastic toys by comparison. The science director of this facility, Dr Jaret Heise describes the giant caves as "cathedrals to science". Dr Heise has been involved the construction of these caverns at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (Surf) for nearly ten years. They seal Dune off from the noise and radiation from the world above. Now, Dune is now ready for the next stage. "We are poised to build the detector that will change our understanding of the Universe with instruments that will be deployed by a collaboration of more than 1,400 scientists from 35 countries who are eager to answer the question of why we exist," he says. When the Universe was created two kinds of particles were created: matter – from which stars, planets and everything around us are made – and, in equal amounts, antimatter, matter's exact opposite. Theoretically the two should have cancelled each other out, leaving nothing but a big burst of energy. And yet, here we – as matter – are. Scientists believe that the answer to understanding why matter won – and we exist – lies in studying a particle called the neutrino and its antimatter opposite, the anti-neutrino. They will be firing beams of both kinds of particles from deep underground in Illinois to the detectors at South Dakota, 800 miles away. This is because as they travel, neutrinos and anti-neutrinos change ever so slightly. The scientists want to find out whether those changes are different for the neutrinos and anti-neutrinos. If they are, it could lead them to the answer of why matter and anti-matter don't cancel each other out. Dune is an international collaboration, involving 1,400 scientists from thirty countries. Among them is Dr Kate Shaw from Sussex University, who told me that the discoveries in store will be "transformative" to our understanding of the Universe and humanity's view of itself. "It is really exciting that we are here now with the technology, with the engineering, with the computer software skills to really be able to attack these big questions," she said. Half a world away, Japanese scientists are using shining golden globes to search for the same answers. Gleaming in all its splendour it is like a temple to science, mirroring the cathedral in South Dakota 6,000 miles (9,650 km) away. The scientists are building Hyper-K — which will be a bigger and better version of their existing neutrino detector, Super-K. The Japanese-led team will be ready to turn on their neutrino beam in less than three years, several years earlier than the American project. Just like Dune, Hyper-K is an international collaboration. Dr Mark Scott of Imperial College, London believes his team is in pole position to make one of the biggest ever discoveries about the origin of the Universe. "We switch on earlier and we have a larger detector, so we should have more sensitivity sooner than Dune," he says. Having both experiments running together means that scientists will learn more than they would with just one, but, he says, "I would like to get there first!" But Dr Linda Cremonesi, of Queen Mary University of London, who works for the Dune project, says that getting there first may not give the Japanese-led team the full picture of what is really going on. "There is an element of a race, but Hyper K does not have yet all of the ingredients that they need to understand if neutrinos and anti-neutrinos behave differently." The race may be on, but the first results are only expected in a few years' time. The question of just what happened at the beginning of time to bring us into existence remains a mystery – for now. — BBC
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists in a race to discover why the Universe exists
Inside a laboratory nestled above the mist of the forests of south Dakota, scientists are searching for the answer to one of science's biggest questions: why does the Universe exist? They are in a race for the answer with a separate team of Japanese scientists – who are several years ahead. The current theories of astronomy can't explain why the planets stars and galaxies came into existence. Both teams are building detectors that study a sub-atomic particle called a neutrino in the hope of finding answers. US scientists are hoping the answer lies deep underground, in the aptly named Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (Dune). The scientists travel 1,500 metres below the surface into three vast underground caverns. Such is the scale that construction crews and their bulldozers seem like small plastic toys by comparison. Dune's science director Dr Jaret Heise describes the giant caves as "cathedrals to science". Dr Heise has been involved the construction of these caverns for nearly ten years. They seal Dune off from the noise and radiation from the world above. Now, Dune is now ready for the next stage. "We are poised to build the detector that will change our understanding of the Universe with instruments that will be deployed by a collaboration of 1,500 scientists who are eager to answer the question of why we exist," he says. When the Universe was created two kinds of particles were created: matter – from which stars, planets and everything around us are made – and, in equal amounts, antimatter, matter's exact opposite. Theoretically the two should have cancelled each other out, leaving nothing but a big burst of energy. And yet, here we – as matter – are. Scientists believe that the answer to understanding why matter won – and we exist – lies in studying a particle called the neutrino and its antimatter opposite, the anti-neutrino. They will be firing beams of both kinds of particles from deep underground in Illinois to the detectors at South Dakota, 800 miles away. This is because as they travel, neutrinos and anti-neutrinos change ever so slightly. The scientists want to find out whether those changes are different for the neutrinos and anti-neutrinos. If they are, it could lead them to the answer of why matter and anti-matter don't cancel each other out. Dune is an international collaboration, involving 1,400 scientists from thirty countries. Among them is Dr Kate Shaw from Sussex University, who told me that the discoveries in store will be "transformative" to our understanding of the Universe and humanity's view of itself. "It is really exciting that we are here now with the technology, with the engineering, with the computer software skills to really be able to attack these big questions," she said. Half a world away, Japanese scientists are using shining golden globes to search for the same answers. In all their splendour, look like a temple to science. The scientists are building Hyper K - which will be a bigger and better version of their existing neutrino detector, Super K. The Japanese-led team will be ready to turn on their neutrino beam in less than two years, several years earlier than the American project. Just like Dune, Hyper K is an international collaboration. Dr Mark Scott of Imperial College, London believes his team is in pole position to make one of the biggest ever discoveries about the origin of the Universe. "We switch on earlier and we have a larger detector, so we should have more sensitivity sooner than Dune," he says. Having both experiments running together means that scientists will learn more than they would with just one, but, he says, "I would like to get there first!" But Dr Linda Cremonesi, of Queen Mary University of London, who works for the US project, says that getting there first may not give the Japanese-led team the full picture of what is really going on. "There is an element of a race, but Hyper K does not have yet all of the ingredients that they need to understand if neutrinos and anti-neutrinos behave differently". The race may be on, but the first results are only expected in a few years' time. The question of just what happened at the beginning of time to bring us into existence remains a mystery – for now.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists in a race to discover why the Universe exists
Inside a laboratory nestled above the mist of the forests of south Dakota, scientists are searching for the answer to one of science's biggest questions: why does the Universe exist? They are in a race for the answer with a separate team of Japanese scientists – who are several years ahead. The current theories of astronomy can't explain why the planets stars and galaxies came into existence. Both teams are building detectors that study a sub-atomic particle called a neutrino in the hope of finding answers. US scientists are hoping the answer lies deep underground, in the aptly named Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (Dune). The scientists travel 1,500 metres below the surface into three vast underground caverns. Such is the scale that construction crews and their bulldozers seem like small plastic toys by comparison. Dune's science director Dr Jaret Heise describes the giant caves as "cathedrals to science". Dr Heise has been involved the construction of these caverns for nearly ten years. They seal Dune off from the noise and radiation from the world above. Now, Dune is now ready for the next stage. "We are poised to build the detector that will change our understanding of the Universe with instruments that will be deployed by a collaboration of 1,500 scientists who are eager to answer the question of why we exist," he says. When the Universe was created two kinds of particles were created: matter – from which stars, planets and everything around us are made – and, in equal amounts, antimatter, matter's exact opposite. Theoretically the two should have cancelled each other out, leaving nothing but a big burst of energy. And yet, here we – as matter – are. Scientists believe that the answer to understanding why matter won – and we exist – lies in studying a particle called the neutrino and its antimatter opposite, the anti-neutrino. They will be firing beams of both kinds of particles from deep underground in Illinois to the detectors at South Dakota, 800 miles away. This is because as they travel, neutrinos and anti-neutrinos change ever so slightly. The scientists want to find out whether those changes are different for the neutrinos and anti-neutrinos. If they are, it could lead them to the answer of why matter and anti-matter don't cancel each other out. Dune is an international collaboration, involving 1,400 scientists from thirty countries. Among them is Dr Kate Shaw from Sussex University, who told me that the discoveries in store will be "transformative" to our understanding of the Universe and humanity's view of itself. "It is really exciting that we are here now with the technology, with the engineering, with the computer software skills to really be able to attack these big questions," she said. Half a world away, Japanese scientists are using shining golden globes to search for the same answers. In all their splendour, look like a temple to science. The scientists are building Hyper K - which will be a bigger and better version of their existing neutrino detector, Super K. The Japanese-led team will be ready to turn on their neutrino beam in less than two years, several years earlier than the American project. Just like Dune, Hyper K is an international collaboration. Dr Mark Scott of Imperial College, London believes his team is in pole position to make one of the biggest ever discoveries about the origin of the Universe. "We switch on earlier and we have a larger detector, so we should have more sensitivity sooner than Dune," he says. Having both experiments running together means that scientists will learn more than they would with just one, but, he says, "I would like to get there first!" But Dr Linda Cremonesi, of Queen Mary University of London, who works for the US project, says that getting there first may not give the Japanese-led team the full picture of what is really going on. "There is an element of a race, but Hyper K does not have yet all of the ingredients that they need to understand if neutrinos and anti-neutrinos behave differently". The race may be on, but the first results are only expected in a few years' time. The question of just what happened at the beginning of time to bring us into existence remains a mystery – for now.
