NewsParticle PhysicsA tiny neutrino detector scored big at a nuclear reactorA compact method of detecting the subatomic particles provides new tests of physics theories Scientists detected antineutrinos with a 3-kilogram detector in an experiment at the Leibstadt Nuclear Power Plant in Switzerland (shown).FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty ImagesBy Emily Conover1 hour agoA tiny neutrino detector has found its footing in a fresh setting at a nuclear reactor.Conventional detectors of the subatomic particles require metric tons of material. But the new detector has a mass of less than 3 kilograms. Think chihuahua. Andit successfully detected antineutrinos, the antimatter counterparts of neutrinos, streaming from a nuclear power plant in Leibstadt, Switzerland, researchers report in a paper submitted January 9 to arXiv.org.This is actually huge, says neutrino physicist Kate Scholberg of Duke University, who was not involved with the research. People have been trying to do this for many decades and now have finally succeeded.