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Dark matter constitutes a significant portion of the universe, yet its direct detection has eluded scientists for decades. Researchers infer its presence primarily through its gravitational effects on ordinary matter, but beyond that, dark matter remains completely undetectable by conventional means. To probe this mystery, an experiment involved colliding particles at extremely high energies and analyzing the debris from these collisions.
One particle examined during the experiment is the beauty quark, a tiny sub-atomic particle smaller than an atom. This particle is highly unstable, existing only for about one and a half trillionths of a second before it decays into other forms. Despite this fleeting existence, scientists successfully observed the interaction of beauty quarks with other particles on scales as small as a billion-trillionth of a meter.
Certain theoretical models propose that at this incredibly small scale, particles might be more affected by dark matter, potentially altering how quarks interact and decay. By detecting particle behavior within this realm—referred to as the “zeptoverse”—scientists hope to gather clues that might lead to the discovery of dark matter. Dr Harry Cliff of Cambridge University, who led the data analysis, described this process as offering “a ringside seat to the behaviour of possible new particles.” He emphasized the need for more data to delve deeper into these phenomena and uncover any unknown particles that may be present.
Among the younger researchers involved in this breakthrough is Dr Mary Richardson-Slipper, who is reconsidering her career prospects in light of funding cuts to physics research. While she values being in the UK, she indicated that job opportunities abroad seem more plentiful currently. She also noted that many of her colleagues working in fundamental physics have already relocated overseas. These reductions in funding come as the overall science budget in the UK reaches record highs, a contradiction that has drawn criticism from figures like Prof Brian Cox, a particle researcher at the University of Manchester and television presenter. Cox regarded the discovery as “important” and strongly opposed recent cuts to UK funding for the CERN project. He warned that stepping back from scientific leadership at CERN could severely damage the UK’s future research capabilities and international standing.
In response to concerns, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) affirmed its ongoing commitment to CERN, identifying itself as the organization’s second largest funder, contributing approximately £175 million annually. A spokesperson for UKRI indicated that funding decisions were made following independent review and highlighted new investments in areas such as clean energy, medical imaging, and cultural heritage. However, they also acknowledged that many promising funding applications could not be supported due to budget constraints
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