Experimental Particle Astrophysics

科学家们喜欢谜题，因为解决自然界的谜题意味着有机会了解宇宙的新事物。高能宇宙射线就是这样一个谜。宇宙中有什么东西——没人知道是什么——正在向宇宙周围抛射能量惊人的粒子。这些粒子来自未知的超强宇宙爆炸吗？从一个巨大的黑洞吞噬恒星到它们的剧烈死亡？来自星系碰撞？从宇宙起源的大量看不见的遗迹的崩塌中？我们还不知道答案，但我们知道，解决这个谜团将使科学家在理解宇宙方面又向前迈进一步。这个来自东北大学的小组想要成为解开这个谜团的团队的一员。

Scientists love a mystery, because solving a mystery in nature means the opportunity to learn something new about the universe. High-energy cosmic rays are just such a mystery. Something out there -- no one knows what -- is hurling incredibly energetic particles around the universe. Do these particles come from some unknown superpowerful cosmic explosion? From a huge black hole sucking stars to their violent deaths? From colliding galaxies? From the collapse of massive invisible relics from the origin of the universe? We don't yet know the answers, but we do know that solving this mystery will take scientists another step forward in understanding the universe. This group from Northeastern University wants to be a part of the team that solves this mystery.