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Characteristic neutrinos are evidence of the secondary fusion process that powers our sun
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Scientists from the Borexino collaboration have provided the first experimental proof of the occurrence of the so-called CNO cycle in the sun: They were able to directly observe characteristic neutrinos that arise during this fusion process. This is an important milestone towards a complete understanding of the fusion processes in the sun. Even more: While the CNO cycle plays a subordinate role in the sun, it is probably the predominant way of generating energy in stars, which are much heavier and therefore hotter than the sun. The results of the Borexino collaboration are published in the current issue of Nature.