A solution of a hoary conundrum: the origin and properties of cosmic rays

I discuss a theory of non-solar cosmic rays (CRs) based on a single type of CR source at all energies. All observed properties of CRs are predicted in terms of very simple and completely 'standard' physics. The source of CRs is extremely 'economical': it has only one parameter to be fitted to the enormous ensemble of all of the data. All other inputs are 'priors', that is theoretical or observational items of information independent of the properties of the source of CRs and chosen to lie in their pre-established ranges.