Beijing – China is making significant progress in understanding a particle that is ubiquitous on Earth but extremely difficult to detect, following the completion of a next-generation experiment designed to study neutrinos with high precision.

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), built at a cost of 2.7 billion yuan (S$496.5 million), reported its first results on November 19 since beginning operations in August. Located in Guangdong province, JUNO consists of a giant sphere situated 700 meters underground, surrounded by more than 40,000 light detectors. The setup is intended to detect the elusive neutrino, often called the “ghost particle.” Neutrinos are fundamental particles that make up the smallest building blocks of matter. Despite being present in vast numbers, trillions of neutrinos pass through the human body every second without being noticed. Studying them could help solve some of the deepest mysteries in physics.

Major countries, including China, the United States, and European nations, have invested heavily in large-scale experiments to study neutrinos, attracting top scientific talent and driving technological innovation. Professor Wen Liangjian, physics coordinator at JUNO, said the first data measuring solar neutrino oscillation parameters—numbers that describe how neutrinos change as they travel from the Sun to Earth—have been measured with higher precision than in previous experiments. Dr. Wang Yifang, who leads JUNO, noted that achieving such precision within two months of operation demonstrates that the facility is performing as designed. The data collected is shared among participating institutions.

JUNO is one of the few high-end facilities worldwide at the forefront of neutrino detection and study. Other major projects include the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) in the United States and Japan’s Hyper-Kamiokande, both still under construction. The project is part of China’s broader goal of becoming a science and technology leader. Researching neutrinos is a form of basic research, which may not have immediate applications but is critical for future scientific breakthroughs. China’s leadership sees investment in basic research as a way to reduce reliance on other countries for key technologies. National spending on basic research reached a record 250 billion yuan in 2024.

Professor Jennifer Thomas from University College London described JUNO as “world-leading” and noted that DUNE and Hyper-Kamiokande are expected to come online around 2028. China has previously led in neutrino oscillation measurements with the Daya Bay experiment in Guangdong, which operated mainly from 2011 to 2020. Since then, China has maintained a lead in this area, with JUNO representing a significant step forward. Professor Thomas added that China’s focus and willingness to invest heavily in scientific research gives it an advantage, and JUNO is expected to produce new results in neutrino oscillations over the next five years.

Professor J. Pedro Ochoa-Ricoux from the University of California at Irvine said that U.S. and Japanese facilities are not in direct competition with JUNO. While there is some overlap, DUNE and Hyper-Kamiokande focus on different questions, making the experiments complementary. JUNO involves more than 700 researchers from 17 countries, including the French National Centre for Scientific Research, the largest fundamental science research agency in Europe. Prof. Ochoa-Ricoux said that JUNO, together with other neutrino projects, is at the top of the field and will continue to attract leading scientists for decades.

The acrylic sphere at JUNO contains 20,000 tonnes of a liquid material that emits flashes of light when a neutrino collides with an atom. Thousands of light detectors capture and measure these flashes. The detector tracks neutrinos from two nearby nuclear power plants, Yangjiang and Taishan, both 53 kilometers away. The granite mountain above the sphere shields the facility from cosmic rays, which could interfere with measurements.

Professor Oh Choo Hiap from the National University of Singapore said that hosting and conducting advanced experiments provides valuable knowledge. Developing techniques and technologies independently helps scientists better understand experimental design than those not directly involved in such projects.

JUNO is expected to play a central role in neutrino research in the coming years, advancing both fundamental physics and technological expertise.