Pupils at Rickmansworth School have teamed up with some of the country’s leading physicists to shed light on mysterious deep space phenomena.
The school will play host to a series of state-of-the-art cosmic ray detectors to help scientists at London’s King’s College compile some ground-breaking research.
Teachers hope that in turn the project will help pupils with their school work and exams.
Cosmic rays are defined as highly energetic sub-atomic particles. They are constantly penetrating the earth’s atmosphere from space, invisible to the eye.
They originate from the Sun, distant stars, supernovae and even black holes.
Scientists, however, know little else about their origin, make up, or potential effect on life on earth.
It is hoped the pupils’ research will help academics better understand the phenomenon.
Pupils will be responsible for the maintenance of the detectors and for transferring data for further examination at King’s College.
Gordon Gentry, Head of Science at the school, said: “The sources of high energy cosmic rays and where they acquire such energy is unknown.
“This is valid scientific research and we are excited that our pupils will be involved with it.
Teacher Nidaa Mir, an ex student of King’s, added: “This is an excellent way to enrich pupils’ learning in physics.”
The detectors, which will be buried underground, will be fully operational in the spring.
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