Astrophysicists from the University of Utah, in collaboration with the Telescope Array, have made groundbreaking observations by detecting cosmic rays with energies that surpass previously established theoretical limits. This discovery is challenging the current understanding of particle physics. Notable among these findings are the Oh-My-God and Amaterasu particles, which suggest the existence of hitherto unknown cosmic phenomena. The scientific community is actively engaged in ongoing research to unravel the mysteries surrounding these high-energy cosmic rays and their implications for our comprehension of the universe.
In 1991, the University of Utah Fly’s Eye experiment detected the highest-energy cosmic ray ever observed. Later dubbed the Oh-My-God particle, the cosmic ray’s energy shocked astrophysicists. Nothing in our galaxy had the power to produce it, and the particle had more energy than was theoretically possible for cosmic rays traveling to Earth from other galaxies. Simply put, the particle should not exist. Astrophysicists from the University
Subsequent to the initial detection of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, the Telescope Array has observed over 30 instances of these phenomena, although none have reached the extraordinary energy levels associated with the Oh-My-God particles. Despite these observations, the origin of these cosmic rays and the mechanisms facilitating their journey to Earth remain elusive. Ongoing research endeavors are focused on unraveling the mysteries surrounding the source and transport mechanisms of these ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, aiming to broaden our understanding of the cosmic processes at play.