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SpeakBase Times·Science·
Ghostly Particle from Deep Space Sets Record: Scientists Close In on Source of Most Energetic Neutrino Ever Detected
A new study published in May 2026 has identified blazars -- supermassive black holes whose jets of plasma point directly toward Earth -- as the likely cosmic source of KM3-230213A, the most energetic neutrino ever detected. The particle, carrying an astonishing energy of 220 petaelectronvolts (PeV), was caught on February 13, 2023, by the KM3NeT underwater telescope 3.5 kilometers beneath the Mediterranean Sea. The finding opens a new window on the extreme physics driving the most powerful objects in the universe.
By SpeakBase Times Editorial Team
Level 1 - Absolute Beginner
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Reading PassageTap highlighted words for definitions
Scientists study tiny particles called neutrinos. Neutrinos travel through space at close to the speed of light. They pass through almost everything without stopping. A special telescope under the sea was built to catch them.
On February 13, 2023, a telescope under the Mediterranean Sea found the most energetic neutrino ever seen. It had 220 PeV of energy. This is more than ten times the energy of any neutrino found before. Scientists called this an amazing discovery.
A new study in 2026 says the particle came from a blazar. A blazar is a powerful black hole in a very distant galaxy. It shoots a beam of energy toward Earth. Scientists are excited because this helps us understand the universe.
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Key Vocabularyneutrino —a very tiny particle from space that travels at nearly the speed of light and passes through almost all matter
telescope —a scientific instrument used to observe distant objects in space
Mediterranean Sea —the sea located between Europe, Africa, and western Asia
energy —the ability to do work or cause change, measured in units such as electronvolts
blazar —an extremely powerful black hole in a distant galaxy that shoots a powerful beam of energy directly toward Earth
black hole —a region in space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it
galaxy —a massive system of billions of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity
particle —an extremely small piece of matter that makes up atoms and other substances
Exercises
Multiple Choice
1Where is the KM3NeT telescope located?
2What is a neutrino?
3What energy did the record-setting neutrino carry?
4What is a blazar?
5What did scientists discover in the new 2026 study?
True or False
6Neutrinos are easy to detect because they are very large particles.
7The KM3NeT telescope is located under the Mediterranean Sea.
8The record-setting neutrino had an energy of 220 PeV.
9A blazar is a type of planet found at the edge of our solar system.
10Scientists believe the record neutrino came from a blazar in a distant galaxy.
Fill in the Blank
11The KM3NeT telescope is located under the ___ Sea.
12The most energetic neutrino ever detected had an energy of ___ PeV.
13A blazar is a powerful ___ that shoots a beam of energy toward Earth.