01 · The discovery
The idea, in everyday language
Neutrinos are particles that usually pass through matter unnoticed. Rare interactions in Antarctic ice produce secondary particles whose light can be recorded by buried sensors.
IceCube uses a cubic kilometre of ice to capture enough of these rare events. Their energy and direction reveal information about extreme environments in the cosmos.
Why it matters
Neutrinos provide another way to study the universe alongside light and other cosmic messengers.
