In the vast expanse of the cosmos, where time and space danced their intricate ballet, a symphony of particles emerged moments after the Big Bang. Among these ethereal performers were neutrinos, the enigmatic messengers of the universe's infancy. As we embark on a journey into the depths of time, we uncover the fascinating role of neutrinos in the early universe, their contribution to the cosmic neutrino background, and their harmonious influence on the formation of the colossal cosmic structures we behold today.
Ghost particles. That's the name numerous physicists give to neutrinos, the nearly weightless subatomic particles that are omnipresent, everywhere, at every moment. Their presence is typically undetectable, and it often requires experiments as large as swimming pools or even bigger to capture them. Yet they are vital components in the particle physics enigma that explains everything we observe in the universe. And they're incredibly odd. Here are some of the peculiar things physicists have discovered about neutrinos.