Scientists are making steady progress toward uncovering what may be the universe’s biggest secret: the true nature of dark matter. Although it accounts for most of the universe’s mass, dark matter remains invisible and poorly understood, forming a key piece of a cosmic puzzle that continues to challenge researchers worldwide.
Physicists estimate that dark matter and dark energy make up about 95 percent of the universe. Ordinary matter—the kind that makes up stars, planets, and everything humans can see—represents only about 5 percent.
Despite their dominance, dark matter and dark energy cannot be observed directly because they do not emit, reflect, or absorb light. Scientists detect them by studying their gravitational effects on galaxies and large-scale cosmic structures.
Physicist develops tools to detect the undetectable
Dr. Rupak Mahapatra, an experimental particle physicist at Texas A&M University, is among those working to reveal the identity of dark matter. His team develops highly sensitive semiconductor detectors with cryogenic quantum sensors designed to capture rare signals from particles that barely interact with visible matter.
Mahapatra said the biggest challenge is that these particles are so elusive that an interaction might occur only once a year or even less often. His group has helped lead the development of a detector system called TESSERACT, designed to amplify extremely weak signals that would otherwise be lost in background noise. Texas A&M is one of a few institutions involved in this global search effort.
A MINER detector that is used to search for low-energy neutrinos at the Texas A&M TRIGA reactor. This sapphire detector can be used for both dark matter searches and for detection of reactor neutrinos.#Darkmatter pic.twitter.com/nchxEzfZTc
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) January 8, 2026
For Mahapatra, the mystery of dark matter is not unlike a centuries-old parable. He likens it to trying to describe an elephant by only feeling its tail. The shape is massive and complex, but humanity is still sensing only a small part of it.
He and his collaborators recently published findings in Applied Physics Letters that highlight advancements in detection technologies aimed at exploring this unknown territory.
Global strategies target dark matter, the universe’s biggest secret
His work is built on decades of experience, including more than 25 years with the SuperCDMS experiment, a leading project in dark matter research. In a landmark 2014 paper in Physical Review Letters, Mahapatra and colleagues introduced a new detection method that increased sensitivity to low-mass WIMPs, one of the primary candidates for dark matter.
In 2022, Mahapatra co-authored a study that emphasized the importance of using multiple approaches to detect dark matter, including direct and indirect searches as well as collider experiments. He believes no single method will provide all the answers, but together, they can offer a clearer picture.
Mahapatra said detecting dark matter would not only deepen scientific understanding but also open the door to technologies beyond current imagination.
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