Neutrinos are tiny, nearly massless particles that are produced in nuclear reactions, such as those occurring in the sun or during a supernova explosion. They are part of the Standard Model of particle physics and come in three types, or "flavors": electron neutrinos, muon neutrinos, and tau neutrinos. Despite being abundant in the universe, neutrinos rarely interact with matter, making them extremely difficult to detect. Because they can pass through entire planets without being stopped, neutrinos provide valuable information about cosmic events. Scientists use large detectors, like the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica, to study these elusive particles and learn more about the fundamental workings of the universe.