For all our fancy telescopes and atom accelerator pedal , we still have n’t managed to detecteven a smidgen of dark matter . In a dramatic variety of course , investigator at Virginia Tech are now get hold of a enormously scurvy - tech approach to the hunt by looking for the elusive material in a gang of sure-enough rocks .
While most scientist are pretty convinced thatdark matteris indeed a thing , to appointment we ’ve only ever been able-bodied to detect it indirectly . For case , we know that all of the evident masses does n’t describe for thestrength of gravityat certain points in the universe , which can only be explained by the presence of some invisible meaning loaf all around us .
For decades , physicists have speculated that it may be possible to find dark subject in activeness if we can somehow catch it colliding with an nuclear nucleus . In such a scenario , a spark of vigour is potential to be produced , thus giving us something tangible to lick with .
And that ’s where the rocks come in . Given that our major planet is trillion of years old , there ’s a gamy chance that ancient tilt in Earth ’s gall have at some point collided with dark-skinned thing . Where this has happened , it should be possible to observe nuclei that have been bumped out of place , thus leaving anomaly and imperfection in a mineral ’s quartz structure .
Researchers are therefore build a new science laboratory at Virginia Tech ’s Robeson Hall where they will apply sophisticated imaging technique to hunt for these miniature trails of destruction left inside old careen . Explaining the proposed method in astatement , quantum organisation expert Vsevolod Ivanov said “ we ’ll take a crystallization that ’s been expose to different particle for millions of years and take off the dispersion that correspond to things we do know . ”
“ Whatever is pass on must be something new , and that could be the drear matter . ”
Of course , learn to distinguish the traces and traffic pattern leave behind by other origin of radiation is going to be a major challenge . At present tense , the squad are channel a serial publication of tests using synthetic lithium fluoride for image the atom tracks attributable to cosmic beam , which must be subtract for insulate the echoes of dark matter collision .
Explaining his motivation for take on this monumental challenge , project leader Patrick Huber said “ it ’s demented . When I first get wind about this idea , I was like - this is insane . I want to do it , ”
“ Other the great unwashed in their midlife crisis might take a mistress or get a sports car . I got a lab . ”
