Searching for Dark Matter

Science

Scientists around the world are using extraordinary experiments — from detectors buried miles underground to the world's most powerful particle accelerator — in the hunt for dark matter. Join the search and learn how each method works.

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11
Questions
5–10 min
Time
Q1 Question 1 of 11

What is direct detection of dark matter?

Q2 Question 2 of 11

Why are dark matter detectors placed deep underground?

Q3 Question 3 of 11

Why do direct detection experiments use liquid xenon as their detector material?

Q4 Question 4 of 11

What is the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment?

Q5 Question 5 of 11

How might the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN detect dark matter?

Q6 Question 6 of 11

What is indirect detection of dark matter?

Q7 Question 7 of 11

What is MOND, and what problem does it face?

Q8 Question 8 of 11

Where do indirect detection experiments look for signs of dark matter annihilation?

Q9 Question 9 of 11

Which space telescope has been searching for gamma-ray signatures of dark matter annihilation?

Q10 Question 10 of 11

What does each failed dark matter search tell scientists, even if no signal is found?

Q11 Question 11 of 11

Which experiment is located in the Gran Sasso underground laboratory in Italy and uses liquid xenon?