IceCube is built on decades of research into tiny ‘ghost particles’ - but it was the first to find neutrinos coming from deep space
The IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole has been instrumental in detecting neutrinos from deep space, a feat that earned physicist Francis Halzen the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics. The observatory uses massive amounts of ice to capture these elusive 'ghost particles'.
Why it matters
Studying neutrinos helps physicists understand fundamental questions about the composition of the universe and the dominance of matter over antimatter.
The IceCube Neutrino Observatory sits on tons of clear ice at the South Pole, allowing scientists to detect neutrino interactions. Cmichel67/Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA IceCube is built on decades of research into tiny ‘ghost particles’ – but it was the first to find neutrinos coming from deep space Published: October 8, 2026 3.07am BST https://theconversation.com/icecube-is-built-on-decades-of-research-into-tiny-ghost-particles-but-it-was-the-first-to-find-neutrinos-coming-from-deep-space-293801 https://theconversation.com/icecube-is-built-on-decades-of-research-into-tiny-ghost-particles-but-it-was-the-first-to-find-neutrinos-coming-from-deep-space-293801 Link copied Share article Share article
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All visible matter in the universe – stars, planets, you, me – is made up of some combination of 12 fundamental particles . The lightest and most abundant of these are neutrinos . They are also the least visible. With every tick of the clock, more than 100 billion of these “ little neutral ones ” stealthily zip through you, with energies so low that they leave no trace of their passage.
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