Scientists Detect an Unexplained Signal Nearly a Mile Underground

A mysterious signal picked up underground in South Dakota has some scientists hypothesizing that they may have detected dark matter. Here is what the early research is indicating, and why scientists are so excited about the discovery.

Has Dark Matter Finally Been Identified?

Scientists in South Dakota have observed an atypical particle interaction that cannot be explained by more common theories. The researchers at the discovery site noted that the interaction showed up in an area where they would expect dark matter, lending more support to the theory that it could indeed be this type of mass.

According to NASA, dark matter accounts for about 85% of the mass in the universe. The subject of dark matter has long been studied by scientists trying to detect and understand its properties. Despite all of the decades of research devoted to its exploration, a direct detection of dark matter has never happened.

The elusiveness of dark matter makes this latest discovery even more exciting. The odd signal was recorded by the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment, research happening almost one mile under the surface of the Earth at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the research includes approximately 250 scientists and engineers from around the world.

According to a DOE press release, the lone detection event happened in the part of the experiment where dark matter would be likely. This was also the part of the experiment where the odds of interference from other known signals would be very low.

The researchers working on the project caution that this is not conclusive evidence of dark matter. That said, researchers have not been able to identify what exactly happened after studying other potential explanations for the signal.

According to Berkeley Lab physicist Aaron Manalaysay, “This is the first example in any experiment I've worked on of an outlier that appears valid in every way. Of course, we're still twisting our brains trying to think if there's a rare background mechanism we could've missed, but it's thrilling to wonder if this could be the first hint of a dark-matter observation."

Why Researchers Were Looking for Dark Matter So Far Underground

The discovery of the mysterious signal so far underground is part of the experimental method used by the scientists. LZ uses 10 tonnes of pure liquid xenon to try to detect the minuscule flashes of light that are produced when particles come into contact with the detector. In specific terms, the scientists are looking for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs).

By placing the detector so far underground, scientists are able to block out cosmic rays and other types of space particles that could generate false signals. The group also used a large water tank to act as additional shielding from potential interference.

What is next? Scientists will continue to collect data and monitor any other atypical interactions. The appearance of similar events could lend more support to the theory that dark matter has been identified and is responsible for creating the unknown signal.

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