cosmic rays

plural noun

1. Also called: cosmic radiation. radiation consisting of particles, esp protons, of very high energy that reach the earth from outer space

cosmic rays

1. Elementary particles, mainly protons, that are produced by the sun and other stars and then strike the upper atmosphere of the Earth. Some of these particles are absorbed, some help form the Van Allen belt, and some reach the Earth's surface, where they form a part of the background radiation that constantly surrounds us.

Example Sentences

Since extreme temperatures and cosmic rays break down rubber or turn it to a brittle glass, metal alloys and high-performance plastic are chief contenders for airless space tyres.

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Researchers put detectors deep underground to shield them from cosmic rays and background radiation.

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Tracking lines arc through the expansive field, recalling cosmic rays shooting across a cloud chamber.

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Now that the spacecraft is outside the Sun’s protective bubble, its electronics are also vulnerable to strikes from galactic cosmic rays, charged particles accelerated to ultrahigh energies by supernovae and other cosmic engines.

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She says lab experiments will now be needed to pin down exactly how DMS forms in space, where ultraviolet light and cosmic rays can power the synthesis of complex organic molecules.

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