Nobel Prize–winning physicist Prof. Takaaki Kajita from the University of Tokyo visited Wrocław University of Science and Technology. During an open lecture, he explained how experiments conducted deep underground make it possible to study invisible phenomena and gain new insights into the Universe.

His lecture, “Unveiling the Mysteries of the Universe from Underground,” was held as part of the Interdisciplinary Scientific Seminar, on Tuesday, 19 May, at 1:15 p.m. at the PWr Congress Centre (building D-20, 8 Janiszewskiego St.).

The event was co-organised by the Wrocław branch of Academia Europaea.

Exploring space… from underground

Although modern astronomy relies on increasingly advanced telescopes, not all cosmic phenomena can be observed from the Earth’s surface. That is why some experiments are carried out in specialised laboratories built deep underground.

During his lecture, Prof. Kajita discussed extremely hard-to-detect particles and phenomena that provide crucial information about the origins and structure of the Universe. He also explained why underground detectors are capable of capturing signals beyond the reach of traditional observation methods.

Outstanding physicist and discoverer

Prof. Takaaki Kajita is one of the world’s leading researchers in particle physics and has long been affiliated with the University of Tokyo. For many years, he conducted research at the Kamioka Observatory, using advanced detectors to study cosmic phenomena.

A breakthrough in his career came in 1998 with the discovery of a new behaviour of elementary particles, significantly advancing our understanding of the structure of matter. For this achievement, he was awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics.

He currently leads the KAGRA project—one of the most important experiments investigating gravitational waves—and remains actively involved in international scientific collaboration.