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"'Ghost' particles win the Nobel Prize."

Views expressed in this science and technology update are those of the reporters and correspondents.  Accessed on 29 October 2026, 2350 UTC.

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Welcome to the Sciworthy Newsletter! Halloween is here, and we love a good ghost (particle) story! From the ancient hominins "haunting" our DNA to poisonous jack-o'-lantern mushrooms, October is the month for spooooky science. "Ghost" particles win the Nobel Prize by Ben Pauley You walk through a chilly laboratory as a cold wind howls outside. Something you cannot see has just passed through the ceiling above you, or perhaps through the floor below. Suddenly, out of the corner of your eye, you see it: a mysterious but distinct blue glow. But you aren’t exploring a haunted mansion… you’re a scientist at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica! On October 6, 2026, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics to Francis Halzen at the University of Wisconsin–Madison “for decisive contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin.”  Neutrinos are tiny particles that interact only weakly with electromagnetism as they zip through space close to the speed of light, and they are very difficult to spot. Space phenomena like the Sun fusing elements in its core or distant supernovae produce tremendous quantities of neutrinos. However, scientists at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory observe only a minuscule fraction of these particles as they pass by.  In the isolated facility, scientists and engineers have rigged a cubic kilometer (0.2 cubic miles) of ice with light sensors to catch glimpses of a blue light known as Cherenkov radiation. This light comes at the end of a series of reactions that occur when a neutrino hits a water molecule. With this system, scientists have made the first detection of high-energy neutrinos from outside the solar system and outside the galaxy, and they have mapped the sources of neutrinos in the Milky Way. As researchers chip away at the universe’s mysteries with IceCube, they aim to make it a little less spooky. Dangerous Jack-o'-lanterns!  by Nina Camillone An ancient, eerie glow in the forest after dusk... is it something supernatural or just a mushroom showing off?  Around the world, 132 known species of fungi have a natural ability to glow in the dark, which scientists call bioluminescence. Similar to their namesake, jack-o’-lantern mushrooms appear bright pumpkin orange in daylight, but their gills glow green after dark. Two species of jack-o’-lantern mushrooms grow in North America: Omphalotus illudens east of the Rockies and Omphalotus olivascens in the west. In southern Australia, the woods are haunted by the glowing mushrooms of the closely related ghost fungus, Omphalotus nidiformis. But why do these mushrooms glow in the first place?  At the cellular level, these species produce light-emitting molecules called luciferins. However, their purpose remains cloaked in mystery. Scientists have observed that glowing mushrooms attract insects, which they hypothesize could disperse fungal spores or prey on other insects that feed on them. For the time being, it’s still an open investigation.  Spookiest of all, poisonous bioluminescent mushrooms can be mistaken for edible look-alikes in the daylight, such as jack-o’lantern mushrooms for chanterelles, or ghost fungi for oyster mushrooms. Consider the eerie glow as a warning – perhaps not of paranormal activity, but of a snack best avoided!  More Spooky Science The hominins haunting our DNA. This Halloween, you can skip the ghost costume. Every human carries ghosts of the past in their DNA — several of them, in fact — woven into the long strands of genetic material we inherited from our ancestors. These genetic ghosts come from long-dead hominin populations that disappeared so completely that no one has ever found their bones. Researchers recently developed a computer program that can trace human DNA backwards in time to spot our extinct “ghost” ancestors. Read about it here! Searching for UFOs in our solar system. In the summer of 2025, the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile discovered 3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar object to pass through our solar system. Some scientists suggested the object could be evidence of advanced alien technology. Researchers ultimately agreed that 3I/ATLAS wasn't an alien probe or a mothership sent to destroy Earth. However, its passage presented a rare opportunity to test whether scientists could detect unusual radio signals from similar objects, like alien artifacts, passing through our solar system. Read about it here! Become a Supporter If you appreciate free, objective science news, become a Sciworthy supporter! We keep our content ad-free because we don’t think advertisers should drive the discussion. That means we rely on generous donors like you to help us maintain our website, support our writers, and run our online courses. Even $5 per month can make a difference. Donate now! Think we can do better? Tell us how. We want to hear from you! Take our 5-minute survey to help sciworthy.com better serve our readers. Take Our Survey

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