Astronomers detect mysterious high-energy particle falling to Earth from space

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. John Matthews, a research professor at University of Utah’s department of physics and astronomy in the US, said: “Things that people think of as energetic, like supernova, are nowhere near energetic enough for this. “You need huge amounts of energy, really high magnetic fields to confine the particle while it gets accelerated.” The Amaterasu particle has an energy exceeding 240 exa-electron volts, which is millions of times more than what particles achieve at the Large Hadron Collider, the most powerful accelerator ever built. Toshihiro Fujii, an associate professor at Osaka Metropolitan University in Japan, said: “When I first discovered this ultra-high-energy cosmic ray, I thought there must have been a mistake, as it showed an energy level unprecedented in the last three decades.” When ultra-high-energy cosmic rays hit Earth’s atmosphere, they initiate a cascade of secondary particles and electromagnetic radiation in what is known as an extensive air shower. “That’s the mystery of this – what the heck is going on?” When I first discovered this ultra-high-energy cosmic ray, I thought there must have been a mistake, as it showed an energy level unprecedented in the last three decades Prof Toshihiro Fujii They hope that the Amaterasu particle will pave the way for further investigations that could help shed light on ultra high-energy cosmic rays and where the come from.