Visitors join in the hunt for dark matter

Science exhibition attendees learned about the mysterious substance that makes up around 80% of all matter in the universe.

Visitors at the New Scientist Live event in London had the opportunity to step into a life-sized detector to hunt for dark matter signals.

Attendees also had the chance to engage with hands-on activities explaining dark matter, and a Cosmic Cube detecting live cosmic rays.

The ‘Underground Dark Matter Searches UK’ stand was designed by researchers from the University of Edinburgh. The walk-in detector used data from the LUX-ZEPLIN dark matter experiment, which is located 1 mile underground in South Dakota, USA, to light up 240 LEDs with the same patterns seen in the real detector.

What is dark matter?

Scientists are not sure yet, but they know it makes up 80% of the matter in our universe, and that it shapes galaxies and holds cosmic structures together. They think that dark matter may be a new fundamental particle - called a WIMP (Weakly Interacting Massive Particle). The hunt for WIMPs leads them deep underground where experiments, such as the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) detector, are shielded from cosmic rays. Scientists from UK institutions are key contributors to the LZ experiment. The next generation dark matter detector, XLZD, will take us even closer to answering one of the greatest mysteries of modern physics. Several sites are being considered to host this detector, with the shortlist including the UK’s Boulby Underground Laboratory.

New Scientist Live

New Scientist Live brings together experts in science, technology and innovation for three days of discovery each autumn.

With over 26,000 people attending, 70 inspiring speakers, five dynamic stages and more than 90 hands-on exhibits, visitors explored everything from the mysteries of the cosmos to the future of health, climate and AI.

Thanks to colleagues from the LUX-ZEPLIN and XLZD collaborations for their contribution to the Underground Dark Matter Searches UK stand.