Deep in an abandoned gold mine in rural South Dakota, a team of physicists are hunting for astrophysical treasure. Their rare and elusive quarry is dark matter, a theoretical particle which has never been seen or directly detected. Yet its gravitational effect on distant galaxies hints at its existence and provides ample evidence to fuel the experiments and aspirations of scientists at the Sanford Underground Research Facility. Insulated by 4,850 feet of rock, the researchers have constructed the world’s most sensitive particle detector, known as the Large Underground Xenon Experiment, or “LUX.” Their goal is to use this complex device to capture an epiphanous event: the interaction between dark matter and atoms inside a chilled tank of liquid xenon. If they’re successful, the researchers may not only solve some of the biggest mysteries in astrophysics but affirm their faith in the nature of dark matter.

Credits Produced and Directed by Luke Groskin

Filmed by Christian Baker

Edited by Erika Sutter

Animations by Gabe Darling

Produced with generous support from the John Templeton Foundation

Music by Audio Network

Sanford Underground Research Facility Photos by Matt Kapust

Dark Matter Universe Visualization by Ralf Kaehler (KIPAC/SLAC), Carter Emmart (AMNH) , Tom Abel(KIPAC/SLAC)

Additional Stills and Video Provided by Luke Groskin, Pond5, Shutterstock ,

Durham University, Large Binocular Telescope Organization,

José Francisco Salgado , NASA, ESA, ESO/Digitized Sky Survey 2,

E. Jullo (JPL/LAM), P. Natarajan (Yale), J-P. Kneib (LAM)

Special Thanks to Jon Balajathy, Elizabeth Boulton, Danielle Dana, Jennifer Fenwick, Ira Flatow, Richard Gaitskell, Adam Gomez

Matt Kapust, Brian Lenardo, Daniel McKinsey, Lief Ristroph, Jenny Shalant, Wing To, Connie Walter