Scientists in the UAE have played a key role in a breakthrough that promises to change how astrophysicists view the world.
The consortium, including researchers from Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, identified a neutrino, or "ghost particle", packing 30 times more energy than any other yet detected. A telescope in the depths of the Mediterranean Sea, the Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope, also known as the KM3NeT, provided the data that allowed researchers to arrive at their findings.
It comes as interest in astrophysics and space research among UAE scientists and students is surging, while the country is consolidating its reputation as a key player in the global space race. The detection of the ultra-high-energy neutrino, one of only a few hundred identified, was revealed this month in the journal Nature.
“This is the first time that we’ve measured the highest-energy neutrino and the energy we’re talking about is in terms of 100 million billion times the energy of visible light,” said Dr Satyendra Thoudam, assistant professor in the department of physics at Khalifa, who was involved with the telescope project.
“This has actually opened a new window on the universe. At the same time, it’s [also] opened a new window to study the energy of the ultra-high-energy rays and their propagation in the universe, which is one of the most fundamental problems in astrophysics.”
Neutrinos can be used, he said, to study the distant universe and processes inside astrophysical objects, and offer “a completely new way of looking at the universe”. The particles, which have a tiny mass and no electrical charge, can pass without trace through almost anything, giving rise to their nickname of ghost particles.
Glowing in numbers
Nearly all particles, including electrons (negatively charged particles) and protons (positively charged particles) are absorbed by water but neutrinos, while they can pass through more easily, cause the generation of a bluish glow called Cherenkov light, which the telescope detects.
The KM3NeT is stationed about 40km off the coast of France and, while construction on the project began years ago, is not yet complete but is expected to be able detect many more neutrinos in years to come.
Analysis of Cherenkov light allows researchers to work out how much energy the neutrino has and from which direction it came. Potentially travelling from the farthest reaches of the universe, neutrinos are generated by the break-up or the coming together of atomic nuclei.
According to the US Department of Energy, tens of trillions of neutrinos, which are the most common particle with any mass in the universe, pass through the human body every second. The high-energy level of the neutrino detected suggests it was produced during a major celestial event, such as a catastrophic star explosion called a supernova, or in a black hole.
More than 350 scientists from institutions in at least 20 countries are involved in the KM3NeT collaboration, so called because the telescope, will eventually cover a cubic kilometre. Khalifa University became an observer partner in 2021 and graduated to full membership in July last year, since when Dr Thoudam, who joined the university in 2019, said the university had “started to get more involved”.
Dr Thoudam, who after leaving his native India worked in the Netherlands and Sweden before joining Khalifa in 2019, said the broader field of research into astrophysics and related subjects was growing in the UAE.
“You have the UAE Space Agency and many other projects related to this going on in different universities, including Khalifa University,” he said. “There are groups very actively involved in the UAE space programme. As far as astrophysics is concerned, it’s part of space research and it’s a growing field.”
Also involved in the KM3NeT collaboration is Abdulrahman Alhebsi, an Emirati PhD student, 25, at Khalifa who has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in astrophysics and theoretical physics from the University of Sheffield and the University of Edinburgh in the UK.
Mr Alhebsi, from Ras Al Khaimah, said he was keen to come back to the Emirates because of the strength of the university’s research into astroparticle physics. His interest in the subject dates from his childhood, encouraged by his father. “He always used to tell me how large and big the universe is. It grew the interest in me,” Mr Alhebsi said.
Today, his astrophysics research, supervised by Dr Thoudam and another assistant professor, Dr Arjen van Vliet, sees him using complex software to process reams of digital information.
“It involves coding and trying to analyse the data we have using a programming language,” he said. It’s mostly looking at the screen and coding."
Dr van Vliet, a Dutch citizen who completed his doctorate in Germany and joined Khalifa in 2022, said space and related fields had become “one of the big pillars” of the UAE’s research activities and was generating much interest among young people.
“There’s a large interest here,” he said. “You can tell that from the students. There’s a lot of interest in astronomy … [and in] astro particle physics. If you look at the university, here we have got very large student groups, a physics club and astronomy club.
"These clubs are very popular and they organise field trips to go stargazing. There’s a lot of interest in the students in astronomy in general. A lot is motivated from the interest that came from the government … which promoted space research, space science. That’s definitely had an impact.”
The UAE’s space programme has involved, among other things, the launch of the Hope Mars orbiter and plans to explore the asteroid belt beyond the Red Planet are afoot. Two Emirati astronauts, Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi, have travelled into space and only last week the head of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, Salem Al Marri, told the World Governments Summit he was keen to see an Emirati astronaut on the Moon within a decade.
The commercial space sector is growing fast, with companies such as Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin grabbing headlines with their low Earth-orbit missions.
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Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
Ways to control drones
Countries have been coming up with ways to restrict and monitor the use of non-commercial drones to keep them from trespassing on controlled areas such as airports.
"Drones vary in size and some can be as big as a small city car - so imagine the impact of one hitting an airplane. It's a huge risk, especially when commercial airliners are not designed to make or take sudden evasive manoeuvres like drones can" says Saj Ahmed, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research.
New measures have now been taken to monitor drone activity, Geo-fencing technology is one.
It's a method designed to prevent drones from drifting into banned areas. The technology uses GPS location signals to stop its machines flying close to airports and other restricted zones.
The European commission has recently announced a blueprint to make drone use in low-level airspace safe, secure and environmentally friendly. This process is called “U-Space” – it covers altitudes of up to 150 metres. It is also noteworthy that that UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends drones to be flown at no higher than 400ft. “U-Space” technology will be governed by a system similar to air traffic control management, which will be automated using tools like geo-fencing.
The UAE has drawn serious measures to ensure users register their devices under strict new laws. Authorities have urged that users must obtain approval in advance before flying the drones, non registered drone use in Dubai will result in a fine of up to twenty thousand dirhams under a new resolution approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Mr Ahmad suggest that "Hefty fines running into hundreds of thousands of dollars need to compensate for the cost of airport disruption and flight diversions to lengthy jail spells, confiscation of travel rights and use of drones for a lengthy period" must be enforced in order to reduce airport intrusion.
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Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Stars: Liam Neeson, Amber Midthunder, Laurence Fishburne
2/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Fresh faces in UAE side
Khalifa Mubarak (24) An accomplished centre-back, the Al Nasr defender’s progress has been hampered in the past by injury. With not many options in central defence, he would bolster what can be a problem area.
Ali Salmeen (22) Has been superb at the heart of Al Wasl’s midfield these past two seasons, with the Dubai club flourishing under manager Rodolfo Arrubarrena. Would add workrate and composure to the centre of the park.
Mohammed Jamal (23) Enjoyed a stellar 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League campaign, proving integral to Al Jazira as the capital club sealed the championship for only a second time. A tenacious and disciplined central midfielder.
Khalfan Mubarak (22) One of the most exciting players in the UAE, the Al Jazira playmaker has been likened in style to Omar Abdulrahman. Has minimal international experience already, but there should be much more to come.
Jassim Yaqoub (20) Another incredibly exciting prospect, the Al Nasr winger is becoming a regular contributor at club level. Pacey, direct and with an eye for goal, he would provide the team’s attack an extra dimension.
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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T20 internationals: 41 matches, 29 wickets, average 30.3, economy rate 6.28
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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6.30pm: Longines Conquest Classic Dh150,000 Maiden 1,200m.
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7.40pm: Longines Equestrian Collection Dh150,000 Maiden 1,600m.
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8.15pm: Longines Gents Master Collection Dh175,000 Handicap.
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8.50pm: Longines Ladies Master Collection Dh225,000 Conditions 1,600m.
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9.25pm: Longines Ladies La Grande Classique Dh155,000 Handicap 1,600m.
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10pm: Longines Moon Phase Master Collection Dh170,000 Handicap 2,000m.
Winner:
Bharat
Director: Ali Abbas Zafar
Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
50-man Royal Rumble
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho
John Cena v Triple H
Matches to be announced
WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Raw Tag Team Championship, United States Championship and the Cruiserweight Championship are all due to be defended
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 6 Huddersfield Town 1
Man City: Agüero (25', 35', 75'), Jesus (31'), Silva (48'), Kongolo (84' og)
Huddersfield: Stankovic (43')
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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