NewsParticle PhysicsCosmic rays could help reveal how tornadoes formMuons could gauge pressure changes caused by twister-generating supercell thunderstorms Measuring conditions within supercell thunderstorms and their tornadoes (pictured) is a challenge. Subatomic particles called muons could help reveal pressure changes within storms.Ryan McGinnis/Moment/Getty Images PlusBy Emily Conover54 seconds agoSupercell thunderstorms are known for their devastatingly gnarly tornadoes, but exactly how the twisters form is poorly understood. A new study suggests that scientists could glean hints with a little help from the cosmos.Muons, subatomic particles that are like heavy versions of electrons, could reveal the atmospheric pressure within a thunderstorm and resulting tornado, researchers report in a paper accepted inPhysical Review D. The particles are produced by cosmic rays, which are an assortment of high-energy particles from space, including protons. When cosmic rays careen into the atmosphere, they produce muons that rain down on Earth including through tornadoes.