SLAC topics

Dark matter RSS feed

One of modern science’s biggest mysteries is dark matter, an invisible form of matter that shapes galaxy rotation and bends rays of light. No one knows what dark matter is, but scientists are carrying out a number of experiments to learn more.

Related links:
Physics of the universe
Astrophysics and cosmology

Formation of dark matter structures.

News Brief

The observatory's practice camera has captured its first on-sky data.

A telescope pointed through open doors in its building's roof.
News Feature

New results from the world’s most sensitive dark matter detector put the best-ever limits on particles called WIMPs, a leading candidate for what makes...

A tall white cylinder stands in a clean room space.
Past Event
Discovering millions of galaxies and unraveling the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy is far out! Join us at the Dutch Goose for...
SLAC on Tap Hannah Polleck
Past Event

Presented by Chelsea Bartram

Public Lecture: Chelsea Bartram
News Feature

The 3.5-meter  glass mirror is the first permanent component of the Simonyi Survey Telescope's  state-of-the-art, wide-field optical system to be installed and will soon...

A donut-shaped mirror is lowered into a large support apparatus.
Video

Public lecture presented by Chelsea Bartram

still frame for public lecture
Video
Video

Risa Wechsler, astrophysicist explains: 85% of the matter in the universe is dark matter, a substance that interacts through gravity but doesn't emit light.

Stillframe of LSST video
Video
Video

Margaux Lopez is the logistics lead for shipping the LSST Camera to Chile. The world's largest digital camera, crafted at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory...

Stillframe of LSST video
Video
Public Lecture Poster
Poster illustration of public lecture featuring Ashley James
News Feature
VIA Symmetry Magazine

Scaling up the dark matter search

Physicists are preparing for the next generation of dark-matter experiments. 

Illustration of billiard balls on a cosmic pool table
News Feature

Researchers have released 10 terabytes of data from the OpenUniverse project, which has created a detailed simulation of the universe astrophysicists can use to...

Stars and galaxies on a black background.
News Feature

The largest camera ever built for astrophysics has completed the journey to Cerro Pachón in Chile, where it will soon help unlock the Universe’s...

A semi truck traveling a gravel road approaches two large telescope facilities.