All articles tagged with #cosmic rays
The DAMPE space telescope has directly detected a universal spectral softening at about 15 teravolts across five cosmic-ray species, confirming a rigidity-dependent acceleration framework (the Peters cycle) and ruling out mass-dependent models with over 99.999% confidence, suggesting a nearby Galactic source as the accelerator.
New analysis of DAMPE data finds a universal spectral softening around 15 TeV across multiple high-energy cosmic-ray nuclei, suggesting rigidity—not energy per nucleon—shapes cosmic-ray behavior and tightening constraints on acceleration models; the result, published in Nature, was aided by AI-based event reconstruction and DAMPE’s Silicon-Tungsten Tracker.
New simulations suggest ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays hitting Earth could be atomic nuclei heavier than iron, which lose energy more slowly over cosmic distances; events like neutron-star mergers or massive star collapses into black holes may accelerate these ultraheavy nuclei, reshaping how scientists search for their sources and understand cosmic-ray acceleration.
A DAMPE study finds a consistent spectral softening in primary cosmic ray nuclei—from protons to iron—occurring around a rigidity of ~15 TV, implying that acceleration and propagation depend on rigidity rather than energy per nucleon; the result, published in Nature, challenges alternative models with 99.999% confidence and narrows the questions about where cosmic rays originate, aided by UNIGE researchers’ AI-based event reconstruction and the DAMPE Silicon-Tungsten Tracker for precise measurements.
Researchers buried antennas in Antarctic ice and identified 13 radio pulses from cosmic-ray cascades. New simulations applied to the 2019 data show the signals match the predicted Askaryan radiation in arrival direction, frequency, waveform and polarization at 5.1 sigma, confirming the model and distinguishing them from neutrinos. A full multi-year data release from all five ARA stations is expected soon, with up to seven candidate neutrino events.
A study using data from China’s Chang’e-4 lander identifies a region of reduced galactic cosmic-ray radiation in Earth–Moon space—a cavity that appears during the Moon’s local morning. The lower-energy protons drop by about 20% in this window, likely caused by Earth’s magnetosphere extending farther than previously thought. If confirmed, this timing could help plan safer lunar surface operations for upcoming missions (including Artemis II) by reducing astronauts’ radiation exposure. The findings are published in Science Advances (2026).
A Science Advances study using Chang’e-4 data and NASA’s LRO observations finds that Earth’s magnetosphere forms an extended “cavity” that provides extra shielding for the Moon, reducing lunar surface radiation by about 20% during certain orbital phases—specifically in a pre-noon geometry—even when the Moon is outside the magnetosphere. The effect, mainly affecting low-energy ions that contribute to skin dose, was observed across 31 lunar cycles and could inform radiation protection for future missions, such as Artemis.
JWST spectroscopic data of the ultraluminous infrared galaxy IRAS 07251-0248 reveal a rich mix of small organic molecules (benzene, methane, acetylene, diacetylene, triacetylene) and solid carbon-rich grains in its buried nucleus, along with the first outside-the Milky Way detection of the methyl radical CH3. The chemistry appears driven by cosmic rays fragmenting carbonaceous materials and PAHs, producing a diverse organic inventory far exceeding models’ predictions. This implies deeply obscured galactic nuclei can act as factories of organic molecules, with potential implications for prebiotic chemistry and galactic chemical evolution. Findings published in Nature Astronomy showcase JWST’s power to probe extreme, dust-shrouded environments.
The James Webb Space Telescope unveils a surprisingly rich set of organic molecules in IRAS 07251–0248, an ultra-luminous infrared galaxy about 10+ billion light-years away. Detected molecules include methane, acetylene, benzene, and the methyl radical, indicating a complex chemical network far exceeding current models and potentially driven by cosmic rays that fragment larger carbon-rich grains into smaller organics. This suggests distant galactic nuclei can be ongoing sources of carbon for prebiotic chemistry, offering new insights into the origins of life and showcasing JWST’s power to study chemical evolution in the early universe.
Scientists used ESA’s Swarm satellite data to turn the 41,000-year-old Laschamps magnetic reversal into an eerie audio track, illustrating a dramatic field flip when the magnetosphere weakened by roughly 5–25% of its current strength over about 250 years and remained abnormally oriented for around 440 years. The event increased cosmic-ray exposure, leaving isotopic fingerprints like higher beryllium-10 and potentially impacting climate and megafauna; ongoing Swarm measurements aim to better predict future geomagnetic fluctuations.
Scientists are exploring the nature of dark matter, which makes up about 85% of the universe's matter, by studying galaxy clusters with NASA's XRISM telescope. They are particularly interested in detecting signals from hypothetical particles called sterile neutrinos, which could decay and produce observable X-ray emissions, potentially revealing the particles that constitute dark matter.
Cosmic rays pose a significant challenge for human space travel beyond Earth, especially to Mars, due to their damaging effects on living organisms and equipment. Current physical shields are insufficient against high-energy cosmic rays, prompting research into biological protection methods such as antioxidants, hibernation-like states, and leveraging organisms like tardigrades. Advances in simulation and accelerator technology, along with increased research investment, are crucial for developing effective protection strategies to enable safe long-duration space missions.
A JetBlue Airbus A320 experienced a sudden loss of altitude possibly due to cosmic ray-induced electronic glitches, highlighting the impact of space weather on aircraft safety and prompting Airbus to update its software to mitigate such risks.
A JetBlue flight's sudden altitude drop was caused by cosmic ray-induced bit flips in its computer systems, leading Airbus to recall over 6,000 aircraft for software and hardware updates to prevent similar incidents caused by space radiation affecting microchips in fly-by-wire systems.
NASA's ANITA balloon experiment detected mysterious upward-moving radio signals from beneath Antarctica's ice, initially suggesting potential new particles or physics, but further analysis indicates these signals are unlikely to be neutrinos, leaving the anomaly unexplained. Researchers are developing more advanced detectors like PUEO to better understand these phenomena.