China's study of 'ghost particles' yields first high-precision results

Project part of country's long-term goal of becoming a science and technology giant

- Lim Min Zhang

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory consists of a giant sphere 700m underground to detect the elusive neutrino particle. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

(BLOOMBERG)

China is on track to unlock the mysteries behind a particle that is everywhere on earth yet extremely hard to detect, with the completion of a next-generation science experiment dedicated to detecting neutrinos with high precision.

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), which cost 2.7 billion yuan (S$497 million) to build, on Nov 19 reported its first results since going into operation in August.

Located in Guangdong province, JUNO consists of a giant sphere 700m underground and surrounded by more than 40,000 light detectors, a setup meant to detect the elusive neutrino, dubbed the “ghost particle”.

Fundamental particles are the smallest building blocks of matter. Neutrinos, which are tiny, subatomic particles, are still poorly understood despite being ubiquitous — trillions of neutrinos pass through the human body every second without being felt.

Studying them could solve some of the deepest mysteries of physics. Major countries like China and the US, and Europe, have invested millions in such large-scale experiments, which draw top scientific talent and investment in cutting-edge technologies.