“Where is Dark Matter Hiding?” is a feature story that discusses the ongoing cosmic mystery of dark matter, an invisible substance that makes up 85 percent of all matter in the universe. Despite a preponderance of evidence for dark matter (it can be sensed but not seen), scientists still do not know what it is. Decades’ worth of experiments continue to come up empty-handed. Recently, a lesser-known and riskier theory of dark matter, called “hidden sector,” has gained in popularity, with several Caltech researchers at the forefront, including a pioneer of hidden-sector theories, Kathryn Zurek. The article documents the researchers’ new ideas, which include everything from theoretical quasiparticles to large experiments in deep underground mines, and paints a picture of their determination to bring an invisible particle to light.
From the Judges
We felt this was well-researched and well-written. There was a lot of historical references and jumps in time, but this was managed really well, and the reader was not left behind. It was really well-structured and, although some of the scientific language was dense, it was one of the most accessible explanations of dark matter we'd read.
