UChicago Scientists Analyze Data After Antarctic Balloon Mission to Explore Cosmos Mysteries

Researchers hope data from PUEO device will reveal insights about high-energy neutrinos

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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University of Chicago researchers have begun examining data collected by a device called PUEO that was transported by a NASA balloon and flew over Antarctica for 23 days. The mission aimed to detect radio signals created when neutrinos, the most abundant particles with mass in the universe, hit the ice. Learning about these highly energized neutrinos could lead to discoveries about where in the universe they might have been created, such as black holes and neutron star collisions.

Why it matters

The PUEO mission represents a new approach to studying high-energy neutrinos, which could provide insights into some of the most powerful cosmic events and phenomena. Detecting these elusive particles could help unlock mysteries about the origins of the universe and the nature of matter and energy on a cosmic scale.

The details

The PUEO device, developed over the last five years by labs around the world, was composed of concentric circles of 96 radio antennas and a "brain" to filter incoming signals and identify those from neutrinos. After being launched and remaining airborne for three weeks, the device was recovered and is now being sent back to Chicago for data analysis. Scientists expect the first results to be available in about a year.

  • The PUEO mission launched on December 20, 2025.
  • The PUEO device remained airborne for 23 days before being recovered.

The players

University of Chicago

The research institution leading the PUEO mission and data analysis efforts.

NASA

The space agency that provided the balloon to transport the PUEO device during the mission.

Neutrinos

The most abundant particles with mass in the universe, which the PUEO mission aimed to study in order to learn more about their origins and the powerful cosmic events that create them.

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What’s next

Scientists will continue analyzing the data collected by the PUEO device over the next year to determine if it was successful in detecting any high-energy neutrino signals.

The takeaway

The PUEO mission represents a significant step forward in the scientific community's efforts to better understand the nature and origins of high-energy neutrinos, which could unlock new insights about some of the most powerful and mysterious phenomena in the universe.