1956 neutrino detection

In 1956, physicists Clyde Cowan and Frederick Reines detected neutrinos—tiny, nearly massless particles produced by nuclear reactions—by observing how they interacted with protons in water. When a neutrino collided with a proton, it caused a small burst of light, which was detected with special sensors. This experiment confirmed neutrinos are real particles emitted during processes like nuclear decay, helping to deepen our understanding of the universe's fundamental components. It marked the first successful direct detection of neutrinos, opening new avenues in particle physics research.