Scientists believe they may be a step closer to detecting dark matter for the first time, although the findings have not yet been independently verified. Researchers from the University of Bristol were part of a two-year study using a sensitive detector in an underground US laboratory, where they observed an atom and a mystery particle colliding.
This particle interaction could potentially have been caused by a Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP), which scientists believe makes up dark matter. Lead researcher Dr Sam Eriksen from the University of Bristol described it as potentially "the first step in understanding dark matter as a particle."
However, further research may also reveal that the particle is not related to dark matter. The findings, revealed at a conference in Japan, currently have low statistical evidence of being a true breakthrough, rated at 2.6 sigma against a normal threshold of five. The research has also yet to undergo peer-review by other scientists.