Thanks to Neutrino Detector, We Might Get a Good Look At the Next Supernova

sciencehabit writes "The last star to go supernova in the Milky Way—that astronomers know of—exploded in 1604, before Galileo first turned a telescope to the heavens. But with a neutrino detector now being built within a Japanese mountain that could come online as early as 2016, researchers might be able to do something as yet undone: Make detailed observations of a supernova in our galaxy before it visibly explodes. First, astronomers would be alerted to the unfolding event by the flood of neutrinos generated when a supernova collapses. Within minutes, they could determine the general area of the sky where the explosion would occur, point their infrared telescopes in that direction, and wait for the fireworks. With the new sensor in place, instruments—especially infrared telescopes—would have an almost 100% chance of observing the next supernova in our galaxy, the researchers report."

Re:When I read news like this

[MillionthMonkey]

I assume you meant no disrespect, but "Mass" begins with a capital "M". At Mass, my brain is in fact less constrained by its need for oxygen. I pray for my own short lifespan to become greater so I can attend even more sessions of Mass. I agree there's an amazing amount of universe out there and we do need to get our act together. We need to speedily apply forces to our worst enemies and make aliens spend their time at Mass too.

Re:Neutrino Detection?

[TheRealHocusLocus]

have neutrinos actually been detected yet?

Kinda sorta. Their existence has been inferred by experimental results.

Here is a nicely written neutrino primer for humans [t2k-experiment.org] that answers your detection question. If you already know everything about the subject, visit the Wiki neutrino page [wikipedia.org] to learn what you already know, revel in the obviousness of it all and have a good chuckle at the expense of folks like me who find it to be very jargony.

I first learned of neutrinos while doing web research on Neapolitan ice cream [wikipedia.org]. This amazing ice cream has three flavors, and it appears that neutrinos also have three flavors. This cannot be a coincidence. Since any unified theory which does not include ice cream must be incomplete, I see this as evidence that we are close to solving some great puzzle.

If you are at a cocktail party and overhear particle physicists in a discussion of the "Solar Neutrino Problem", step right up and say that it was Mean Mr. Sun who ate all the chocolate, leaving us to detect only the yucky vanilla and strawberry -- he even left the spoon in the freezer! You will be greeted with smiles and knowing glances, and they might even invite you on the road to tour with them. Particle physicists are always surrounded by groupies and hot women.

Bringing out the big guns, eh?

[mark-t]

I guess astronomers were tired of 10 year old kids repeatedly discovering [universetoday.com] supernovas [universetoday.com] before they did.