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Cosmic Rays
“The results of my balloon flights show that a radiation of very great penetrating power enters our atmosphere from above.”
~ Victor Hess (discoverer of cosmic rays), 1912
International Cosmic Day (ICD) invites students, teachers, and scientists around the world to explore the fascinating world of astroparticles—tiny messengers from space such as cosmic rays, muons, and neutrinos. These energetic particles constantly travel through the atmosphere and even through our own bodies, carrying information about distant supernovae, black holes, and the powerful forces that shape galaxies.
On this special day, classrooms and laboratories across the globe unite to measure cosmic rays, share results, and celebrate the thrill of discovery. Whether through hands-on experiments or creative projects, ICD highlights how science connects us all beneath the same cosmic sky.
The vivid colors seen in galaxy images are both real and enhanced—real in that they reflect the natural light of stars and gases, and enhanced to reveal wavelengths invisible to the human eye. Blue marks young, hot stars; red and gold show older, cooler ones; and pink and violet glow where new stars are born. In this Cosmic Tartan, those same tones are woven together to mirror the universe’s radiant harmony—visible beauty accented by hidden light. 💜 💚 ❤️ 🖤 🔭 🔭 🔭 🌃 🌌
Nov 13
Carol A.L. Martin
Cosmic rays were first discovered in the early 20th century, when scientists noticed mysterious radiation that didn’t seem to come from the Earth itself. In 1912, Austrian physicist Victor Hess made a daring balloon ascent, carrying electroscopes high into the atmosphere. To his surprise, the radiation increased with altitude instead of decreasing — clear evidence that it came from space. His discovery earned him the 1936 Nobel Prize in Physics and opened up a new frontier of cosmic investigation.
Over the next few decades, researchers learned that cosmic rays were not just rays at all, but charged particles, mostly protons and atomic nuclei, traveling near the speed of light. They arrive from all directions, constantly bombarding Earth’s atmosphere and producing showers of secondary particles when they collide with air molecules. During the 1930s and 1940s, experiments on cosmic rays led to major breakthroughs in particle physics, including the discovery of the positron (the first antimatter particle) and the muon.
By the 1950s, scientists began to understand that many cosmic rays come from supernova explosions, where dying stars release incredible amounts of energy, hurling particles across the galaxy. Later research extended the story even further — showing that some cosmic rays come from distant galaxies, quasars, and black holes, accelerated by extreme magnetic fields and shock waves. These high-energy visitors carry messages from the most violent corners of the universe.
Today, cosmic rays are studied using space-based detectors and giant observatories on Earth, like the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina and NASA’s AMS experiment aboard the International Space Station. Scientists are still trying to solve lingering mysteries — such as exactly how the most energetic cosmic rays are accelerated, and why some arrive with almost unimaginable power. What began with a simple balloon ride has evolved into one of astronomy’s most exciting and enduring quests to understand the universe’s most energetic messengers.
For more on International Cosmic Day, click the collage!