Cosmic rays are a significant aspect of the universe that play an important role on our planet. From producing natural wonders such as the northern and southern lights, to being involved in cloud formation, these particles have captured the attention of scientists for years. Some experts even suggest that cosmic rays may be related to mass extinctions on Earth.
Magdalena González Sánchez, an astrophysicist, discussed this topic during her lecture on Cosmic rays, messengers of the universe. She explained that cosmic rays are made up of hydrogen, heavier elements like helium, and other particles like neutrons, neutrinos, and gamma rays. These particles originate from sources such as supernova explosions, black holes and solar events.
The discovery of cosmic rays dates back to 1900 when German Jesuit priest and physicist Theodor Wulf noticed unknown ionizing radiation affecting his electroscope. Later on Austrian physicist Victor Hess conducted experiments using hot air balloons and found that the radiation had an extraterrestrial origin. Subsequent studies by researchers like Jacob Clay and Bruno Rossi further explored cosmic rays and their interaction with the Earth’s atmosphere.
Today, studying cosmic rays has technological implications in radiation monitoring and particle detection as well as scientific implications in promoting international collaborations across various disciplines. The HAWC telescope in Mexico is used to study cosmic rays, detecting high-energy gamma rays through an array of water tanks equipped with photomultipliers. The HAWC telescope has contributed to mapping regions of the sky for gamma ray sources and identifying galactic and extragalactic sources of gamma rays. It has also aided in the study of supermassive black holes and pulsars. Overall, studying cosmic rays provides insights into the origins of ordinary matter and its interactions with the universe.
In conclusion, cosmic rays play a significant role on our planet by producing natural wonders such as the northern and southern lights while being involved in cloud formation. Studying these particles has technological implications in radiation monitoring and particle detection as well as scientific implications in promoting international collaborations across various disciplines. With advancements in technology like the HAWC telescope, we can gain more insights into these fascinating particles that have captivated scientists for years.
