Researchers Send Text Message Using No Cables, Radio or Satellites

Let’s say you needed to send a text to someone on the dark side of the moon, or even just to China. And let’s say there were no cables and no communications satellites connecting your message to it’s destination. How would you do it? Researchers at the University of Rochester got it figured out. Using neutrinos, these scientists sent a text message (which simply read, “Neutrino”) through nearly 800 feet of stone, and was successfully received on the other side. Neutrinos, known for their near-light speed, being electrically neutral, high evasiveness and ability to pass right through nearly everything, were the perfect elementary particle for the job. The experiment itself was performed at FermiLab, right outside of Chicago. Using the 170-ton MINERvA neutrino detector, the researchers were able to receive this text message and translate it from binary back into English, making it the first time this has ever been done. Though not even close to being a feasible method of communication with current technology, perhaps one day the only thing in orbit will be us.

Image courtesy of the University of Rochester