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.

Origin of cosmic ray

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

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Examples from the Web for cosmic ray

Historical Examples of cosmic ray

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

cosmic ray in Science

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.

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