Scientists expected a black hole but found a neutrino factory powered by stars
Key takeaways
- Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have tracked down the source of a powerful neutrino burst with the help of a remarkable cosmic phenomenon that acted like a natural telescope.
- Researchers initially suspected that a supermassive black hole was powering an extraordinarily bright distant galaxy linked to the neutrino signal.
- Tracking One of the Universe's Most Elusive Particles
Why this matters: new research or scientific developments with potential real-world impact.
Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have tracked down the source of a powerful neutrino burst with the help of a remarkable cosmic phenomenon that acted like a natural telescope. What they discovered challenged expectations.
Researchers initially suspected that a supermassive black hole was powering an extraordinarily bright distant galaxy linked to the neutrino signal. Instead, observations revealed that the galaxy's energy comes from intense star formation. The finding provides important evidence that could help explain where many of the Universe's mysterious high-energy neutrinos originate.
Tracking One of the Universe's Most Elusive Particles