Dr. James Beatty

Seeking answers about the nature of the mysteries of the universe has been a continuing quest for thousands of years.  For all that we have learned, there is always more to know – and that “more” requires increasing effort and bigger science.

Click here to see the complete video interview.

Dr. James Beatty, current chair of the Physics Dept., has spent many years seeking to understand the nature of neutrinos and cosmic rays which fill the universe around us, and may hold secrets that could bring us untold advantage in working with natural forces.  The problem is that these rays are relatively rare – at the scale of a mere planet – and are exceedingly difficult to detect.  Dr. Beatty and his team are participating in two international projects intent on learning more about these rays, and building a body of knowledge about them.

One project is based in Argentina – covering an area of the plains about the size of Rhode Island.  Detectors placed in array throughout this region are poised to “see” the rays, and capture key data that is sent back to OSU and dispersed to research partners around the world.  Another project is taking place in Antarctica – where a large array of detectors are floated about the ice by a huge balloon.  This too is an international collaboration.

Dr. Beatty’s students have some unique opportunities to use these land-based “telescopes” to capture and study unique views of the universe.  And the university gains from involvement with an international community of researchers, all seeking to find and share knowledge about the nature of our galactic environment.

A brief preview of this complete interview is also available (YouTube).