High-Energy Neutrinos May Hint at New Physics—or New Civilizations

High-Energy Neutrinos May Hint at New Physics—or New Civilizations

In 1991, the most energetic particle known was detected, with an energy of 3.2 × 10^ {20} electron volts, or equivalently 320 billion times the rest-mass energy of a proton. This particle was appropriately named the “Oh-My-God particle” because it was rare and unique. However, in 2023, another ultra-high-energy cosmic ray with 75% of this record energy was also reported. A cosmic ray is composed of high-energy elementary particles — often proton…