New research has found that variations in rock composition within oceanic plates, caused by ancient tectonic processes, can significantly affect the path and speed of these plates as they sink into Earth’s mantle.
At depths between 410 and 660 kilometers lies the mantle transition zone (MTZ), a key boundary layer that regulates the movement of material into the planet’s deeper interior. When subducting plates, those that dive beneath others, encounter large concentrations of basalt within the MTZ, their descent can slow down or even stall, rather than continuing smoothly into the lower mantle. While basalt-rich regions in the MTZ have been observed before, their origins have remained uncertain until now.
Neutrinos, the mysterious and nearly massless particles that barely interact with anything, are revealing new secrets through the KATRIN experiment.
Using tritium decay and advanced spectrometry, KATRIN has slashed the upper limit on neutrino mass, pushing our understanding of fundamental physics into new territory. With 250 days of data already analyzed and more to come, researchers are optimistic about uncovering even more surprises. Future upgrades aim to detect hypothetical sterile neutrinos, potential dark matter candidates, and possibly revolutionize our view of the universe’s invisible side.
Neutrinos: The Universe’s Ghost Particles.
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