China's underground neutrino detector JUNO nears completion for 2024 launch

China's Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is nearing completion and will start operations next year. This $300 million project aims to detect antineutrinos from nearby nuclear reactors, contributing to global neutrino research. Located 2,297 feet underground, JUNO will capture rare interactions of neutrinos, which are difficult to detect due to their weak interaction with matter. The facility is designed to explore neutrino properties and their mass hierarchy. JUNO joins two other major neutrino projects in Japan and the U.S. These collaborations aim to enhance understanding of neutrinos and their role in the universe's formation, addressing longstanding scientific questions.