The Unbelievable Journey of Cosmic Rays: From Supernova to Earth!

Описание: Did you know that the air we breathe is constantly bombarded by mysterious cosmic rays? These high-energy particles are primarily protons, and they’re created in the most extreme environments in our universe, such as supernova explosions and the vicinity of black holes. It's estimated that each square meter of Earth’s surface receives over a thousand cosmic rays every second! But what’s truly mind-blowing is the journey these particles take. They travel across vast expanses of space, sometimes for millions of years, before finally reaching our planet. Once they enter the Earth’s atmosphere, they collide with nitrogen and oxygen molecules at astonishing speeds, creating showers of secondary particles that can even be detected by scientists. Some cosmic rays originate from our own galaxy, while others come from distant galaxies, making them intergalactic travelers. Understanding these cosmic messengers not only helps us learn about the universe but also about fundamental physics. So next time you're outside, take a moment to appreciate the cosmos, because you may be experiencing particles that have traveled unimaginable distances just to reach you!