cosmic ray

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noun Physics.

a radiation of high penetrating power that originates in outer space and consists partly of high-energy atomic nuclei.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of cosmic ray

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

Words nearby cosmic ray

cosmic, cosmic background radiation, cosmic dust, cosmic microwave background, cosmic noise, cosmic ray, cosmic rays, cosmic string, cosmic web, cosmid, cosmine

How to use cosmic ray in a sentence

There it looks for cascades of thousands of electrons and other particles, debris unleashed by cosmic rays or gamma rays crashing into Earth’s atmosphere.
The Crab Nebula’s electron launcher is so powerful, it almost shouldn’t exist|Monroe Hammond|July 9, 2021|Popular-Science
“Our Earth gets bombarded by cosmic rays, galactic cosmic rays all the time,” he says.
The solar wind bubble that protects Earth has been mapped for the first time|Tatyana Woodall|July 7, 2021|MIT Technology Review
The particles form when cosmic rays from space crash into Earth’s atmosphere, producing a shower of muons.
Readers react to birds colliding with wind turbines, mysterious muons and more|Science News Staff|July 3, 2021|Science News
Galactic cosmic rays coming from outside the solar system can cause harm, too.
These Mice Were Born From Sperm That Spent Almost 6 Years in Space|Vanessa Bates Ramirez|June 16, 2021|Singularity Hub

The Auger Observatory and the Telescope Array in Utah have also detected smaller, subtler cosmic ray “hot spots” in the sky — presumably the locations of nearby sources.
Cosmic Map of Ultrahigh-Energy Particles Points to Long-Hidden Treasures|Natalie Wolchover|April 27, 2021|Quanta Magazine
Cosmic ray observations are more challenging than many other forms of astronomy.
The Hottest Spot for Cosmic Rays|Matthew R. Francis|July 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Due to their varying origins, they carry a variety of energies, which is called the cosmic ray spectrum.
The Hottest Spot for Cosmic Rays|Matthew R. Francis|July 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the end of the second day after their trouble with the cosmic ray field, they stopped for observation.
Islands of Space|John W Campbell
The X-ray is high on the scale and even the cosmic ray is far above its lower limit of detection.
The Solar Magnet|Sterner St. Paul Meek
And he pointed to the cosmic-ray skiagraph of the Moon on the curved glass dome overhead.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, August 1930|Various
It was relux, and he knew it, but he knew what would happen when that cosmic ray hit it.
Invaders from the Infinite|John Wood Campbell
Arcot shot out a cosmic ray himself, and swept the Thessian with it thoroughly.
Invaders from the Infinite|John Wood Campbell

Scientific definitions for cosmic ray

cosmic ray

A ray of radiation of extraterrestrial origin, consisting of one or more charged particles such as protons, alpha particles, and larger atomic nuclei. Cosmic rays entering the atmosphere collide with atoms, producing secondary radiation, such as pions, muons, electrons, and gamma rays. Cosmic rays (and secondary radiation) can be easily seen in a cloud chamber.

cosmic ray

Origin of cosmic ray

Words nearby cosmic ray

Words related to cosmic ray

How to use cosmic ray in a sentence

Scientific definitions for cosmic ray