The ghost particle: searching for the mysterious neutrino - with James Riordon

What's the history and science behind the pursuit of the ghostly subatomic particle, the neutrino?

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This lecture was recorded on 17 August 2023.

With approximately 100 trillion neutrinos passing through us every second, these particles hold the key to unlocking some of the Universe's greatest mysteries. From the discovery of neutrinos and their role in illuminating the Universe through neutrino telescopes to the challenges of detecting this elusive particle, this lecture explores the science behind the ghost particle.

Additionally, we will explore the potential of neutrinos to answer some of the biggest questions in the universe, including the composition of dark matter and the Universe's origin. This is a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the science behind the neutrino and its impact on our understanding of the cosmos.

00:00 A revolution in astronomy
4:58 What exactly is a neutrino?
6:13 Where do neutrinos come from?
8:55 Nils Bohr and the Beta decay conundrum
12:14 Hans Bethe and the invisible particle solution
15:24 How NOT to find a neutrino
21:27 On the hunt for solar neutrinos
25:48 Three flavours of neutrinos
28:16 Neutrino oscillation and how it works
31:18 Probing the inside of the earth
34:47 Using neutrinos for astronomy
38:47 Matter over Antimatter
46:09 Could aliens communicate using neutrinos?
52:50 Looking at the birth of the universe

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James Riordon is a science journalist who has written for Science News, Scientific American, New Scientist, Popular Science, Washington Post, Science, Ad Astra, Physics Today, and Analytical Chemistry. He is a past President of the DC Science Writers Association and Cofounder of the Southwest Science Writers Association.

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