ScienceSeptember 4, 2026

neutrino

noo-TREE-noh

Definition

A subatomic particle with extremely small mass and no electric charge, which interacts very weakly with other matter.

Etymology

Coined in the 1930s by Italian physicist Enrico Fermi, the term combines the Italian 'neutro' (neutral) with the suffix '-ino' (small), literally meaning 'little neutral one'.

In the news

The article uses the term to explain why a proposed neutrino laser is physically impossible, noting that these particles are ghostly and permeate everything without interacting with normal matter.

Best of 2026-09-03

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