'Exciting hint' of dark matter spotted by LUX
Physicists at the LUX-ZEPLIN detector have identified a potential signal that could indicate the presence of dark matter. While the result is not yet confirmed and requires further data, it is considered a significant hint in the search for the elusive substance.
Why it matters
Confirming the existence of dark matter would be a fundamental breakthrough in physics, potentially explaining the structure and movement of galaxies.
The LUX-ZEPLIN detector is one of the most sensitive dark matter detectors in the world. ( Supplied: Matthew Kapust/Sanford Underground Research Facility )
Physicists at the LUX-ZEPLIN detector in the US have uncovered a single event which they say could be evidence of dark matter or a new type of particle interaction.
The team are cautious, but the results suggest there is just a 0.5 per cent chance the event could be explained by something else.
The results have been released for other scientists to pore over, with the researchers hoping other detectors will be able to find similar events in their data.
Link copied Share Share article Dark matter, an elusive substance that permeates the universe, has flummoxed scientists for decades.
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