Kosmisches Kino: Mysterious messengers

Our planet is constantly bombarded by tiny, energetic particles called cosmic rays. They spark the beautiful auroras we see in the northern and southern polar regions. However, cosmic rays can also disrupt satellites and pose major challenges for human space exploration. The search for cosmic rays at ever-higher energies shows that they are becoming increasingly rare - and increasingly mysterious. To catch these extremely energetic and elusive messengers from outer space, scientists use the Earth’s atmosphere as a giant particle detector. Even then, tracing them back to their cosmic origins remains one of astronomy’s greatest puzzles.

In this Kosmisches Kino, Francesca Capel from the Max Planck Institute for Physics (MPP) takes us on a journey into the world of the most accomplished space travellers: cosmic particles. She will show us what cosmic rays are, where they come from, and what messages they carry to us from the depths of the Universe.