Probing Question: What is a neutrino?

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Workers repair one of the 11200 photomultiplier tubes that line the Super Kamiokande neutrino detector and track the light generated as neutrinos move at nearly the speed of light through the water. Courtesy Kamioka Observatory ICRR The University of ...
Workers repair one of the 11,200 photomultiplier tubes that line the Super Kamiokande neutrino detector and track the light generated as neutrinos move at nearly the speed of light through the water. Courtesy Kamioka Observatory, ICRR, The University of Tokyo

Neutrinos are tiny -- really, really tiny -- particles of matter. They are so small, in fact, that they pass between, and even through, atoms without interacting at all. Neutrinos are everywhere: If you start counting now, more than 10 quintillion (that's 10 trillion billions) of them will have passed through your body by the time you finish this article. Yet only one of those 10 quintillion neutrinos will likely interact with an atom in your body. The rest will go merrily on their way.


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