Scientists decode why universe is dominated by matter

Scientists have solved the puzzle of the universe being dominated by matter rather than its close relative anti-matter.

Physicists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison made a precise measurement of elusive, nearly massless particles, and obtained a crucial hint as to why the universe is dominated by matter.

The particles, called anti-neutrinos, were detected at the underground Daya Bay experiment, located near a nuclear reactor in China.

Anti-particles are almost identical twins of sub-atomic particles (electrons, protons and neutrons) that make up our world. When an electron encounters an anti-electron, for example, both are annihilated in a burst of energy.

Failure to see these bursts in the universe tells physicists that anti-matter is vanishingly rare, and that matter rules the roost in today's universe.

"At the beginning of time, in the Big Bang, a soup of particles and anti-particles was created, but somehow an imbalance came about," says Karsten Heeger, a professor of physics at UW-Madison.

"All the studies that have been done have not found enough difference between particles and anti-particles to explain the dominance of matter over anti-matter.

"But the neutrino, an extremely abundant but almost massless particle, may have the right properties, and may even be its own anti-particle, Heeger said in a statement.

"And that's why physicists have put their last hope on the neutrino to explain the absence of anti-matter in the universe," he said.

Reactors, Heeger says, are a fertile source of anti-neutrinos, and measuring how they change during their short flights from the reactor to the detector, gives a basis for calculating a quantity called the "mixing angle", the probability of transformation from one flavour into another.

The measurement of the Daya Bay experiment even before the last set of detectors was installed, showed a surprisingly large angle, Heeger said.

"People thought the angle might be really tiny, so we built an experiment that was 10 times as sensitive as we ended up needing.

Questions to be learn

1.    Consider the following statements regarding Local winds and choose the correct option:
    1.    Sirocco winds originates from Sahara Desert moves towards Italy by crossing Mediterranean Sea.
    2.    Harmattan wind originates from Sahara desert moves towards Guinea coast and brings some respite from severe humidity.
    3.    Chinook wind develops on the Leeward side of the Rocky mountains and its origin is associated with Westerlies.
    4.    Sirocco wind is also known as Doctor wind and Harmattan wind is known as Blood rain.
    Code:
    (a)    1, 3 and 4   (b)    1, 2 and 3 
    (c)    1, 2 and 4    (d)    All

2.    A ship is moving from Athens to Mumbai via suez canal. Consider the following, that will enroute the ship sequentially:
    (a)    Mediterranean Sea, Cairo, Red Sea, gulf of Aden
    (b)    Mediterranean, Gulf of Aquaba, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden
    (c)    Red Sea, Bab al Mandab, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea
    (d)    Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab al Mandab, Arabian Sea.

3.    Consider the following statements and choose the option which appears most appropriate:
    1.    Saddle peak is the highest mountain peak in Andaman & Nicobar.
    2.    North Andaman is the biggest Island in Andaman group of Islands
    3.    Great Nicobar is the biggest Island in Nicobar group of Islands.
    4.    Ross Island is the smallest Island in Andaman & Nicobar Islands
    Code:
    (a)    1, 2 and 3    (b)    1, 3 and 4
    (c)    1, 2 and 4    (d)    All

4.    Consider the following statements and choose the correct option:
    1.    Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest point of Africa and it is located in Ethiopia.
    2.    Mt. Aconcagua is the highest point of South America and it is located in Andes Mountain.
    3.    Dead sea which is 392 m below sea level is Asia's lowest and world's second lowest point.
    4.    Mt. Mckinley located in Alaska is the highest point of North America.

Code:
    (a)    2, 3 and 4    (b)    2 and 4
    (c)    1, 2 and 4    (d)    1, 3 and 4

5.    Consider the following statements regarding Himalayan rivers and Deccan rivers and choose the option which seems most appropriate:
    1.    The Himalayan rivers are formed by melting snow and glaciers and therefore are perennial. While Deccan rivers are rainfed therefore most of them are non perennial.
    2.    Ganga, Gandak and Ramganga are examples of Himalaya river while Narmada, Tapi, Kaveri are the example of Deccan River.
    3.    Himalayan rivers are comparatively less prone to floods than Deccan rivers.
    4.    Himalayan rivers are more polluted than Deccan Rivers.
    Code:
    (a)    1, 2 and 3    (b)    1, 2 and 4
    (c)    2, 3 and 4    (d)    1, 3 and 4