Intentar ORO - Gratis

Scientists detect the most powerful cosmic rays ever

How It Works UK

|

Issue 198

Scientists have detected the most energetic cosmic rays ever discovered, and they're being produced by mysterious sources relatively close to Earth.

-  BEN TURNER

Scientists detect the most powerful cosmic rays ever

The rays, which consist of electrons and their antimatter counterparts, positrons, were observed at energies all the way up to 40 teraelectronvolts (TeV), or 40,000 times the energy of visible light. Spotted by the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) array in Namibia, the rays lose energy as they travel through space due to their interactions with light and magnetic fields. This means that for rays of this energy to be detected, their sources must be relatively nearby. Yet what exactly is producing them remains unknown.

How It Works UK

Esta historia es de la edición Issue 198 de How It Works UK.

Suscríbete a Magzter GOLD para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9000 revistas y periódicos.

¿Ya eres suscriptor?

MÁS HISTORIAS DE How It Works UK

How It Works UK

How It Works UK

INSIDE THE MIND OF A GENIUS

What's going on inside the brains of those with truly exceptional mental abilities, and why are they so intelligent? Genetic analysis and Einstein's brain are providing us with some answers

time to read

6 mins

Issue 205

How It Works UK

How It Works UK

Are polar aurorae stronger at the North Pole?

Amazing answers to your curious questions

time to read

1 min

Issue 205

How It Works UK

ROCKET LAB LAUNCHES AN EARTHOBSERVING SATELLITE

Rocket Lab launched an Earthobserving radar satellite into orbit for the Japanese company iQPS.

time to read

1 min

Issue 205

How It Works UK

How It Works UK

GLUTEN IN THE BODY

When you eat foods like a sandwich or a bowl of pasta, enzymes in your digestive system work to break down the ingredients so that nutrients can be absorbed by the body as the food passes through you.

time to read

1 min

Issue 205

How It Works UK

How It Works UK

We may finally know how paracetamol works

Acetaminophen is widely used to relieve pain, but exactly how it works has long been a mystery.

time to read

2 mins

Issue 205

How It Works UK

How It Works UK

2,800-year-old royal tomb discovered near King Midas' home

Archaeologists have discovered an 8th-century BCE royal tomb of a relative of King Midas in the ancient city of Gordion, southwest of Ankara, Turkey.

time to read

2 mins

Issue 205

How It Works UK

How It Works UK

WHAT IS GLUTEN?

Discover how this viscous and elastic protein forms, where to find it and why some people can't eat it

time to read

1 min

Issue 205

How It Works UK

How It Works UK

INTOLERANCE TYPES

Gluten isn't for everyone. When some people consume gluten, they experience pain and other negative gastrointestinal symptoms.

time to read

1 min

Issue 205

How It Works UK

How It Works UK

Covering poo lagoons could cut most dairy farm methane

Dairy farms produce huge amounts of potent greenhouse gases.

time to read

2 mins

Issue 205

How It Works UK

China pits humanoids against each other in a robot boxing tournament

Lifelike humanoid robots have competed in the world’s first humanoid robot combat competition, with four Chinese teams pitting advanced fighting robots against each other.

time to read

2 mins

Issue 205

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size