Muon Hunters 2.0

Several sites exist to help you to better understand muons, gamma rays, and VERITAS. If you have further questions, refer to the FAQ or give us a shout on Talk.

• VERITAS
• Muon Hunter Blog

Gamma-Rays

Not sure what a gamma-ray is? We’ve compiled a list of useful resources that will help you to better understand gamma-rays, their role in astrophysics and cosmology, and why scientists need to study them.

• Live Science: What Are Gamma Rays?
• The Swift Song - a catchy tune performed by The Chromatics to help you better understand gamma-rays
• NASA: Tour of the Electromagnetic Spectrum- a quick read plus video from NASA about the sources of gamma-rays and how we detect them.
• Let’s Talk Science—Gamma Rays: Helper or Hazard? - a quick understanding of gamma-rays, how we detect them, and how they’re useful on Earth.
• Let’s Talk Science—What are Cosmic Rays? – a quick understanding of cosmic rays and what they have to do with Muons and gamma-rays.
• NASA Goddard—What Are Gamma Rays? – A short video (1:39) explaining the basic concept of gamma-rays.
• Kurzgesagt In a Nutshell—Death from Space: Gamma-Ray Bursts Explained— a slightly silly medium-length video (7:13) that describes gamma-rays and gamma-ray bursts, from first discovery to their capabilities, and on, and on, and on (and including how they might be deadly…so you can listen for 3 minutes and turn it off 😉 ).
• Live Science—What are Gamma-Rays? – a quick read about gamma-rays, including their discovery and their sources.
• Cherenkov Telescope Array Short Videos and Worksheets - a set of seven short videos with accompanying worksheets geared toward 5-11 year olds describing the things in space that create gamma rays and how they are detected here on earth.

Muons

Never heard of a Muon? That’s okay. They’re sly and secretive. That’s why we compiled a list of useful resources you can use to learn all about Muons and their role in science and astrophysics.

• Encyclopedia Brittanica—Muon, Subatomic Particle – the dictionary definition of a Muon.
• Let’s Talk Science—What are Cosmic Rays? – a quick understanding of cosmic rays and what they have to do with Muons and gamma-rays.
• My favorite particle: the muon – an article by Guardian journalist, Mark Lancaster, regarding the discovery and importance of Muons.
• Symmetry: The Muon – a quick read from Symmetry magazine, in which writer Brad Hooker compares the muon to a twinkie, and with good reason.
• Why Muon’s Reach the Earth’s Surface – a short YouTube video (3:40) describing the subatomic particles and how they get to Earth’s surface (where they subsequently cause problems for VERITAS and are hunted down by faithful Muon Hunters).
• Symmetry—Through a Muon’s Eyes – a mid-length read detailing the discovery and importance of Muons in particle physics. Includes a short video from Fermilab.
• Vanderbilt University: What is a Muon?