particle decay

Scientists are using geoneutrinos—near-massless particles produced by radioactive decay inside the Earth—to build a new picture of the planet's deep interior. Wired reports that detecting these elusive particles, which pass through matter almost unnoticed, helps researchers estimate how much heat the Earth generates and how its rocks and elements are distributed, with implications for understanding plate tectonics and the planet's thermal evolution.

Researchers report the possible detection of quantum effects in particle decay, a finding that could shed light on how subatomic particles behave and break down. Details of the study, including the team involved and where the work was published, remain limited, so the scale and significance of the result are not yet clear.

Scientists are using geoneutrinos—elusive particles produced by radioactive decay inside the Earth—to build a new picture of the planet's deep, volatile interior. Wired reports the particles offer a rare direct probe of heat-producing elements in the mantle and core, helping researchers map what lies far beneath the surface. The work could refine understanding of Earth's internal heat and geological activity.