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🌌 World's largest, deepest lab in China to unravel dark matter mysteries
Plus: German firm devised world’s first pilot plant for bio-based aniline
Sade Agard
February 21, 2024
China Jinping Underground Laboratory (CJPL), the world's largest, deepest lab, has initiated operations to probe the enigma of dark matter. Situated beneath Jinping Mountain in Sichuan's Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, CJPL-II lies 2,400 meters below the surface, shielded from cosmic rays and background noise, covering 330,000 cubic meters.
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MUST READ
CJPL-II’s lab uses two upgraded detectors: Particle and Astrophysical Xenon Experiments (PandaX) and China Dark Matter Experiment (CDEX).
PandaX relies on liquid xenon, detecting light flashes when dark matter particles collide with xenon atoms. CDEX employs a higher-sensitivity germanium detector, registering electrical signals upon interaction with dark matter particles.
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PHOTO STORY
German company Covestro has set up the world's first pilot plant for bio-based aniline, a key material in dye and plastic production. Traditionally derived from fossil fuels, this pilot plant pioneers a shift toward using plant biomass instead of petroleum.
SCIENCE
Scientists, who discovered the Radcliffe Wave in 2019 through the ESA’s Gaia mission, have recently delved deeper into its traits. This vast, wave-shaped chain of gas clouds spans 9,000 light-years across the Milky Way's spiral arm. Beyond its visual appearance, recent revelations indicate that it also behaves like a wave as it moves through space-time.
Question of the dayHow do you feel about the China Jinping Underground Lab (CJPL) delving into the mysteries of dark matter? |
YESTERDAY'S RESULTS
Yesterday, we asked for your take on Pembroke Power Station's plan to convert emissions to LNG and bury them at sea. Here are the results:
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜⬜ Supportive of the undersea pipe initiative (21%)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Positive with concerns about effectiveness, potential risks (31%)
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜⬜ Neutral - unsure about the overall impact/effectiveness (25%)
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜⬜ Disapprove due to negative impacts. Prefer alternatives (23%)
“Dark matter is everywhere. In this room. Everywhere.”
Fabiola Gianotti, Particle Physicist at CERN
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