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PART VIII: From inside the earth

Answering fundamental questions about our universe from two kilometres under the Earth. Queen’s University, Carleton University, Laurentian University, Université de Montréal and University of Alberta.

Sharon Oosthoek

Laurentian University

Ontario

Physics

A large steel sphere in a darkened room.

This steel sphere, deep underground at SNOLAB in Sudbury, Ont., contains ultra-cold liquid argon and is part of one of the most sensitive experiments ever for the direct detection of dark matter. We can’t see dark matter because it emits no detectable radiation, but its existence can be inferred by its gravitational effects on stars and galaxies. While scientists believe there is far more dark matter in the universe than there is visible matter, no one has yet directly observed it.

Image: Courtesy of SNOLAB and the DEAP Collaboration

View “PART VII: To the depths of the ocean”
View “PART IX: To inside our head”
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