Cosmic rays

Cosmic rays are high-energy particles that constantly bombard Earth's atmosphere. They're mostly protons (hydrogen nuclei), but they can also be alpha particles (helium nuclei), electrons, and other atomic nuclei.

Cosmic rays come from outer space, but we don't know exactly where they come from. Some may come from supernovae, which are exploding stars, while others may come from black holes or other extreme cosmic events.

When cosmic rays hit the Earth's atmosphere, they interact with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere.
These interactions produce a cascade of secondary particles, which can include pions, kaons, and muons.
Some of these secondary particles can reach the ground, and they can interact with humans and other living organisms.

Cosmic rays have been around for billions of years, and they've played a role in the evolution of life on Earth.
They can damage DNA, and they may have been responsible for some of the mutations that have led to the evolution of new species.
Cosmic rays can also cause cancer, but the risk is very low.

Cosmic rays are a fascinating phenomenon, and they're still being studied by scientists.
We don't know everything about them yet, but we're learning more every day.

Here are some interesting facts about cosmic rays:

Cosmic rays can travel at speeds close to the speed of light.

Cosmic rays can have energies that are billions of times higher than the energies of particles produced by humans.

Cosmic rays can penetrate deep into the Earth's atmosphere, and they can even reach the ground.

Cosmic rays can interact with humans and other living organisms, and they can cause damage to DNA.

Cosmic rays are a source of radiation that can increase the risk of cancer.

Cosmic rays are a fascinating part of our universe, and they're still being studied by scientists.
We don't know everything about them yet, but we're learning more every day.