Topic: cosmic neutrinos

Nature’s science-prize roundup discusses the research recognised by the 2026 Nobel prizes: light-based control of neurons, detection of cosmic neutrinos and the emergence of handed organic molecules. A further segment examines what gut microbes can reveal about ancient human populations and journeys. Research highlights address young viewers of online sports videos and observations of black-hole jets. The episode connects neuroscience, particle physics and chemistry with evolutionary questions about the human microbiome.

Francis Halzen explains how the IceCube telescope uses detectors buried deep in Antarctic ice to observe high-energy neutrinos from the cosmos. The lecture describes construction of the observatory, the measurement of particle energies and directions, and the distinction between atmospheric backgrounds and neutrinos arriving from distant astrophysical sources. It connects the discovery of cosmic neutrinos with the search for the powerful accelerators that produce cosmic rays. Examples include the association with a flaring blazar and evidence identifying the active galaxy NGC 1068 as a neutri