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If LEGEND-200 observes neutrinoless double beta decay, it will mean that unlike protons, electrons and other elementary particles - which each have an "antiparticle" that destroys them on contact - neutrinos are their own antiparticles and can destroy one another. That's why scientists focus on "choosing really low-radioactivity materials to start with and then also coming up with lots of clever ways to reject background [particles]", says Drexel University particle physicist Michelle Dolinski, who is not involved in the project. Noticing when decay results in electrons but not neutrinos can be difficult, especially because neutrinos are plentiful everywhere - billions pass through your body every second - and are often produced when background radiation reacts with machine components. [Extracted from the article]

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