Astronomy current events question: IceCube Neutrino Observatory

Astronomy 210L, fall semester 2015
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)

Terry Devitt, "New Data from Antarctic Detector Firms Up Cosmic Neutrino Sighting" (August 20, 2015)
news.wisc.edu/23954

To confirm that cosmic neutrinos come from outside the Milky Way, the IceCube Neutrino Observatory was buried deep in the Antarctic ice to:
(A) isolate it from earthquakes.
(B) filter out background particles.
(C) detect gravity waves.
(D) reach absolute zero temperatures.
(E) block GPS interference.

Correct answer: (B)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186
(A) : 0 students
(B) : 20 students
(C) : 13 students
(D) : 4 students
(E) : 0 students