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.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has reported an issue with its NVS-02 navigation satellite, launched on January 29 aboard the GSLV-F15 rocket. While the satellite successfully reached orbit and established communication with ground control, a technical malfunction prevented further orbit-raising manoeuvres. The problem was traced to the non-opening of the oxidiser valves, which are crucial for firing the thrusters needed to adjust the satellite’s position. Despite this setback, ISRO has confirmed that the satellite’s systems remain functional, and alternative strategies for its operation are being explored.

Navigation Satellite in Stable Orbit

As reported, according to ISRO’s statement, the NVS-02 satellite remains in an elliptical orbit, and its solar panels are generating power as expected. Communication with the Master Control Facility has been established, ensuring continued monitoring and control. While the intended orbit-raising operations have been stalled, ISRO officials have indicated that the satellite may still be utilised for navigation in its current orbit. Discussions are underway to assess possible adjustments to its mission parameters.

Satellite Positioning Challenges Identified

As per space-tracking data from open-source platforms, the NVS-02 satellite has remained in approximately the same position since its launch, instead of being moved to its designated geostationary slot at 111.75 degrees east. Initial launch data indicated that the satellite had been placed in an elliptical orbit with an apogee of 37,500 km and a perigee of 170 km. While these figures closely matched the planned trajectory, the failure of the onboard thrusters to activate has prevented the intended orbital adjustments.

ISRO’s NavIC Expansion Plans Continue

The NVS-02 is the second satellite in India’s second-generation regional navigation system, known as the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC). The system is designed to provide precise Position, Velocity, and Timing (PVT) services across India and surrounding regions. The first satellite in the series was launched in 2023, and further deployments are planned to strengthen the NavIC network. Despite the current setback, ISRO officials have affirmed that efforts are underway to optimise the mission’s outcome.