Researchers have made a breakthrough in detecting dark matter, a mysterious substance believed to make up 80% of the universe’s mass. By using the atomic nucleus of thorium-229, scientists propose a novel method to detect dark matter’s influence on its properties.
For decades, scientists have been searching for dark matter, but its fundamental properties remain unknown. Dark matter affects visible matter, yet its subtle influence cannot be directly measured. Researchers believe that a nuclear clock developed using the atomic nucleus of thorium-229 can reveal dark matter’s presence by detecting tiny irregularities in its ticking.
Theoretical physics group at the Weizmann Institute of Science made this breakthrough possible. By studying the resonance frequency of thorium-229, scientists can manipulate it with standard laser technology. The element’s natural resonance frequency is low enough to be manipulated, making it a promising candidate for developing a nuclear clock.
However, measuring thorium-229’s resonance frequency has proven challenging due to its extremely precise requirements. Last year’s advancements have made progress possible, but further refinement is needed. Researchers propose that studying minute deviations in the absorption spectrum of thorium-229 can reveal dark matter’s influence.
Theoretical calculations show that this method could detect dark matter even if it were 100 million times weaker than gravity. The team identified an opportunity to study dark matter and laid the groundwork for understanding its effects when changes appear.
If a nuclear clock is developed, it could revolutionize many fields, including Earth and space navigation, communications, power grid management, and scientific research. A thorium-229-based nuclear clock would be the ultimate detector of dark matter, providing a resolution 100,000 times better than current methods.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-07-dark-side-scientists-nuclear-clock.html