Mapping the Cosmos: Astronomers Harness Neutrinos for Sight

Astronomers have created the first map of the Milky Way using neutrinos, marking a milestone in the field of neutrino astronomy. The IceCube observatory at the South Pole detected neutrinos over a ten-year period and determined their origin to be the center of the Milky Way. Neutrinos, which are the lightest elementary particles in the universe, can provide insights into inaccessible areas such as the dense matter swirling around supermassive black holes. The study also revealed that most high-energy neutrinos come from interstellar space rather than the Milky Way itself. Further data and upgrades to the observatory may help uncover the sources of cosmic rays and reveal new physics.