Dark Matter Detectors

Scientists hunt for dark matter particles using direct detection — ultra-sensitive instruments placed deep underground to catch the rare interaction between a dark matter particle and ordinary matter. The XENON experiment uses tons of liquid xenon inside an Italian mountain, while LUX-ZEPLIN runs in a South Dakota mine.

So far, none has detected a particle. Each null result narrows the possible mass and interaction strength. Some physicists worry dark matter may interact so weakly that current technology can never catch it directly.