China Reveals Initial Results from the “JUNO” Underground Neutrino Observatory with Unprecedented Precision
The JUNO underground neutrino observatory, located in Guangdong province, has recorded its first results since becoming operational in August, according to local media reports.
The observatory, situated 700 meters underground and costing 2.7 billion yuan, features a massive sphere surrounded by over 40,000 dedicated sensors to detect neutrinos—subatomic particles that are abundant in the universe yet notoriously elusive, with trillions passing through the human body every second without causing any effect.
The initial measurements from JUNO pertain to solar neutrinos, providing precision surpassing previous experiments. The observatory can also detect neutrinos emitted from two nuclear power plants located approximately fifty kilometers away.
Wang Yifang, the project director, stated that achieving this level of precision after only two months confirms the technical system’s readiness.
This project is part of fundamental research without immediate practical applications, but it aims to address central questions in modern physics.
Consequently, JUNO is ahead of major American and Japanese projects still under construction, gathering over 700 researchers from 17 countries, including scientists from the French National Centre for Scientific Research.
It is worth noting that China allocated a total of 250 billion yuan for fundamental research in 2024, aiming to enhance its technological independence.
