Science Cafe: Cosmic Rays

Posted Monday, April 12, 2010

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Sometimes it feels like we're all surrounded by things that are moving really fast. It's true, and it's not just the traffic on I-77. Every moment, we're bombarded by sub-atomic particles traveling close to the speed of light. They're not dangerous; what science wants to know about them is where do they come from? And what makes them travel so fast? Finding answers requires a lot of scientists and an observatory bigger than Luxembourg. Monday morning at 9, join host Dan Moulthrop for a conversation with local scientists involved in the big search for cosmic rays.

Guests

Dr. Corbin Covault Center for Education and Research in Cosmology and Astrophysics (CERCA), Case Western Reserve University
Yvette Cendes Department of Physics, Case Western Reserve University

Additional Information

Check out more Science Cafe Cleveland topics. Next month: Metabolic Modeling.
Science Cafe Cleveland is the second Monday of every month at the Great Lakes Brewing Company. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the discussion begins at 7 p.m.
Read more about the Pierre Auger Observatory and their findings.

Please follow our community discussion rules when composing your comments.

Bob in Beachwood 9:36 AM 4/12/10

Given the very high energy of the original cosmic rays, how much do they interact with matter? For example, how thick would a layer of water have to be to interact (collide) with have of the incoming very high energy particles?

Great show.

Chuck of Cuyahoga Falls 12:49 PM 4/12/10

Really enjoy the science shows, especially the last two. Had Dr. Szabo as an instructor much longer ago than I’ll admit. If the LHC creates quantum black holes and it produces particles in the same energyrange as some cosmic rays, do they too produce small black holes. Dan just because it natural doesnt mean it cant kill you. What accelerates the particles in cosmic rays