Origin Of Cosmic Rays: VERITAS Telescopes Help Solve 100-year-old Mystery
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 - 00:21
in Astronomy & Space
Nearly 100 years ago, scientists detected the first signs of cosmic rays -- subatomic particles that zip through space at nearly the speed of light. The most energetic cosmic rays hit with the punch of a 98-mph fastball, even though they are smaller than an atom. Astronomers questioned what force could accelerate particles to such a speed. New evidence from the VERITAS telescopes shows that cosmic rays likely are powered by exploding stars and stellar "winds."