A 'Very Exciting' Anomaly Detected in Major Experiment Could Be Huge News For Physics
MIKE MCRAE17 JUNE 2022
A strange gap between theoretical predictions and experimental results in a major neutrino research project could be a sign of the elusive 'sterile' neutrino – a particle so quiet, it can only be detected by the silence it leaves in its wake.
It's not the first time the anomaly has been seen, adding to previous experimental data hinting at something odd in the world of neutrino research. This time around, it's been detected at the Baksan Experiment on Sterile Transitions (BEST).
Unambiguous evidence of the hypothetical sterile neutrino could provide physicists with a solid candidate for the Universe's mysterious supply of dark matter. On the other hand, it could simply all come down to a problem in the models used to describe the quirky behaviors of old school neutrinos.
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"This definitely reaffirms the anomaly we've seen in previous experiments. But what this means is not obvious. There are now conflicting results about sterile neutrinos. If the results indicate fundamental nuclear or atomic physics are misunderstood, that would be very interesting, too."
In spite of ranking among the most abundant particles in the Universe, neutrinos are notoriously difficult to catch. When you've got barely any mass, no electric charge, and only make your presence known through the weak nuclear force, it's easy to slip through even the densest of materials unimpeded.
More:
https://www.sciencealert.com/study-confirms-experimental-blip-that-could-be-a-sign-of-the-most-ghostly-of-particles
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