The Cosmic Ray Research Station at Mount Aragats

Right next to our camp spot, a cosmic ray research station is located. We had to explore. The station was first built in 1943 as a top-secret atomic research lab. It was later converted to a cosmic ray research station. The confusingly named “rays” are, in fact, high-energy protons and atomic nuclei that zip through space at nearly the speed of light. When they meet the Earth’s atmosphere they strike atoms and scatter them like snooker balls. These particles have the power to cut through material, including humans, and are sometimes blamed for corrupting digital memory and crashing computers. The particles are one of the main obstacles to interplanetary travel, and their effects on astronauts and pilots are the subject of continued study. Dotted around the centre, “scintillators” record incoming cosmic rays as they strike chunks of clear plastic inside, causing tiny flashes of light. As well as studying cosmic rays, the centre is equipped with sensors that can record lightning strikes from miles around. In 2018, researchers using the sensors on Aragats found a link between thunderclouds and drastic spikes in radiation, which may affect passengers and crew onboard aircraft. Source: www.theguardia...