What are high-energy neutrinos and why did their discovery earn Antarctic ice a place in the Nobel Prize in Physics?

On Tuesday, October 6, in Copenhagen, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Belgian scientist Francis Halzen. The distinction recognizes his groundbreaking discoveries regarding neutrinos, which have established the foundation for a new type of astronomy and hold the potential to reveal previously unknown cosmic phenomena.

High-energy neutrinos originate from distant sources across the universe and possess the ability to travel through space without deviating from their trajectories, passing directly through planets, buildings, and human bodies while leaving almost no trace. Detecting these elusive particles has uniquely involved Antarctic ice, thereby granting the polar region a significant role in this year's Nobel-recognized physics breakthrough.