original article: https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.21104 or https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/xwqy-yzrk

When a high-energy particle (cosmic ray, say) hits ice, it creates an interaction cascade. (Think of what the Fly's Eye experiment sees, but in ice.) That interaction cascade creates (among other things) a radio signal. This detector is a radio detector under Antarctic ice, looking for exactly that.

The point is that, if a high-energy neutrino were to hit the ice, it could create the same kind of cascade, but it would make it much further into the ice. By having multiple detectors, they can pin down the location, and so they can try to tell the difference between "regular" cosmic rays and high-energy neutrinos.

The detector seems to be functioning as designed. They have seven candidate neutrino interactions.

I love the patience involved in this kind of science.

I just want to come round again to how amazing it is to have a small slice of the internet where “amazeballs scientific discovery happens” and we get, of course, someone on the site who has been part of it.

(Hat goes back in box)