A research team at the University of Southampton has unveiled a strategy to detect dark matter by measuring subtle disturbances in zero gravity. The experiment involves firing lasers through graphite sheets suspended in a weightless environment.
Led by physicist Tim Fuchs, the project aims to provide real evidence of dark matter, a fundamental yet undetectable component of the universe. Fuchs stated, "There are lots of theories as to what dark matter might be, but no experiment on Earth has ever come close to detecting it." The experiment will utilize a satellite named Jovian-1, developed collaboratively by Space South Central and several universities, to transport the device into orbit early next year.
The apparatus, weighing 1.5 kilograms, is designed to orbit Earth for two years, searching for signs of dark matter. Fuchs noted that traditional ground-based detectors may have failed due to dark matter's interaction rate potentially being too high for detection through the atmosphere. He emphasized the uniqueness of this mission, stating, "Our mission is the first of its kind to use this levitating technology in space, and we hope it will serve as proof that we can detect dark matter above Earth."