A compact neutrino detector has successfully identified antineutrinos at a nuclear power plant, marking a significant advancement in particle physics. Unlike conventional detectors that require massive infrastructure, this device weighs less than three kilograms. Despite its size, it effectively detected antineutrinos emitted from a nuclear reactor in Leibstadt, Switzerland. The experiment, which lasted 119 days, involved a detector composed of germanium crystals. Around 400 antineutrinos were recorded, aligning with theoretical predictions. Scientists believe this achievement could lead to improved testing of physics theories and potential applications in nuclear monitoring.

Study Findings and Expert Insights

According to a study submitted to arXiv on January 9, the experiment relied on a specific interaction where neutrinos and antineutrinos scatter off atomic nuclear. This phenomenon, which was first observed in 2017, enables smaller detectors to function effectively. Kate Scholberg, a neutrino physicist at Duke University, told Science News that the accomplishment is significant, as researchers have attempted similar feats for decades. She highlighted the simplicity of the interaction, comparing it to a gentle push rather than a complex nuclear reaction.

Christian Buck, a physicist at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics and co-author of the study, told Science News that this development opens a new avenue in neutrino physics. He noted that the interaction’s clean nature could help identify undiscovered particles or unexpected magnetic properties in neutrinos.

Potential Applications and Challenges

Physicists suggest that such detectors could play a role in monitoring nuclear reactors. The ability to detect antineutrinos could provide insights into reactor activity, including plutonium production, which has implications for nuclear security. However, challenges remain. Jonathan Link, a neutrino physicist at Virginia Tech, told Science News that while the technique is promising, it is still a difficult approach. The detector, despite its small size, requires shielding to eliminate background noise, limiting its portability.

This experiment also helps clarify past findings. In 2022, a similar claim of reactor antineutrinos scattering off nuclei was made, but inconsistencies with established theories led to controversy. Buck stated that the new study rules out the validity of those earlier results. With ongoing research, the field continues to evolve, potentially leading to further discoveries in particle physics.

Baboons in their natural habitat have been observed looking at their reflections in mirrors but failing to recognise themselves. Despite reacting to a visible dot on their arms or legs, the primates showed little to no response when a laser dot was projected onto their faces while they were in front of a mirror. The findings suggest that wild baboons may lack self-awareness, a trait previously observed in some other species under laboratory conditions. The research raises questions about whether self-recognition in animals is innate or developed through experience.

Study Conducted on Wild Baboons

According to a study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, experiments were conducted in Namibia’s Tsaobis Nature Park over five months. Large mirrors were set up near water sources frequented by two troops of chacma baboons (Papio ursinus). When the baboons looked into the mirrors, researchers directed a laser dot onto their cheeks or ears to assess their reactions. The study aimed to determine whether these primates could associate the reflection with their bodies.

Findings Suggest a Lack of Self-Recognition

Alecia Carter, an evolutionary anthropologist at University College London, told Science News that self-awareness is a complex concept, making it difficult to assess in animals. The mark test, which involves placing an unseen mark on an animal’s face and observing its reaction in a mirror, has previously been used to test self-recognition in chimpanzees, orangutans, dolphins, and even some fish species.

Despite showing interest in the mirrors, the baboons did not react to the marks on their faces. When laser dots were placed on visible body parts like arms or legs, 64 per cent of the 91 baboons tested touched the spot. However, out of 51 baboons who looked in the mirror while the dot was on their face or ear, only one responded. Some appeared to notice the mark but did not attempt to touch their faces.

Self-Awareness May Exist on a Spectrum

James Anderson, a primatologist at Kyoto University, told Science News that the research supports existing findings that non-ape primates do not recognise themselves in mirrors. While some trained rhesus monkeys in lab conditions have learned to use mirrors for self-exploration, the baboons in this study displayed no such behaviour.

Masanori Kohda, an animal sociologist at Osaka Metropolitan University, suggested that the laser mark may not have been perceived as part of the baboons’ bodies. He noted that since the dot does not move in sync with their face, the primates may have interpreted it as a mark on the mirror itself rather than on their reflection.

Psychologist Lindsay Murray from the University of Chester highlighted that self-awareness in humans develops gradually, with only 65 per cent of children passing the mirror test by the age of two. She stated that an increasing number of researchers now consider self-awareness as a trait that exists on a continuum rather than a binary characteristic.

Carter pointed out that self-awareness may not be necessary for survival in baboons. She stated that the primates thrive in their natural environment without needing to recognise their own reflections, suggesting that self-recognition may not be essential for all species.

A supernova has been captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope in the constellation Gemini. The stellar explosion, visible as a bright blue dot, was detected in the hazy outer disk of a galaxy that lies approximately 600 million light-years away. The image, which also includes several distant galaxies and foreground stars, was taken nearly two months after the supernova, designated SN 2022aajn, was discovered. The phenomenon has not been the subject of detailed research since its detection in November 2022.

Astronomers Use Supernovae to Measure Distances

As per reports, SN 2022aajn is classified as a Type Ia supernova, which occurs when a dead star’s core explodes. Type Ia supernovae are considered vital for measuring distances across the universe since they share a consistent intrinsic brightness. By comparing their observed brightness from Earth to their known luminosity, astronomers can determine how far away they are. However, intergalactic dust presents a challenge, as it can alter the apparent brightness and colour of these explosions, complicating distance calculations.

Hubble’s Role in Supernova Studies

Observations of SN 2022aajn were part of a broader effort to refine distance measurements. As per reports, Hubble is conducting a survey of 100 Type Ia supernovae using seven different wavelength bands, ranging from ultraviolet to near-infrared. The image of SN 2022aajn was created using four infrared wavelengths, which allow scientists to analyse how much of the supernova’s light is obscured by cosmic dust. By comparing brightness variations across these wavelengths, researchers aim to improve methods for determining distances to galaxies billions of light-years away.