Colliding galaxies may produce cosmic rays

Although smaller than an atom, cosmic rays are the most energetic particles in the Universe - up to 100 million times stronger than the most powerful atom smasher.

No one knows where the rays come from, or why they are so strong. Some scientists believe they may be somehow hurled into outer space by black holes - collapsing stars whose gravity is so powerful even light cannot escape.

Italy contributes $9m

The Italian Government will contribute $9m to construction, with China covering the rest, according to Xinhua.

The new facility will join a smaller observatory built at the same site with Japanese help in 1990.

The experimental hall of the new laboratory is designed to cover 10,000 sq m, of which 5,000 sq m will be installed with cosmic ray detectors, said Meng Xianru, head of the smaller observatory.

The existing lab employs scientists from 12 countries. When the new observatory becomes operational it will open to scientists from around the world, Meng said.

Currently, the largest cosmic ray observatory is the $14m Fly's Eye observatory in Utah.