The NuMI Off-Axis Electron Neutrino Appearance (NOvA) has helped researchers successfully discover neutrino oscillations, thereby logging in a first in the science community. Fermilab and William & Mary's physicists along with the US Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory presented the early results and analysis of the observation.

Being a Fermilab research project, NoVA focuses on high-energy particle physics, like neutrinos.

The researchers explained that neutrino is one of the fundamental particles that comprise the immense universe. However, not much is known about these microscopic and invisible particles.

Neutrinos are similar to the ubiquitous electrons, but they are unable to carry electrical charges due to being electrically neutral. As a result, electromagnetic fields do not have an effect on them.

Neutrinos are known to cooperate with common matter, but eventually lose grip on it. Researchers previously found it difficult to observe these particles. Tau, muon and electron are three different forms the neutrinos come in.

It's is already known that matter is composed of atoms and even the vague anti-matter. Neutrons, electrons and protons are present in them. Transformation does happen in neutrinos and they oscillate between the aforementioned three types.

NOvA program is aimed at observing these oscillations. Scientists have been showing great interest in neutrinos for years due to one possible application - near light speed communication. They rarely react with matter and often pass unimpeded.

Researchers say their work could one day make it possible to beam a signal through the earth with just a beam of invisible particles at speeds equivalent to that of light.