Mining for cosmic answers


In a South Dakota cavern, scientists are working to capture the most elusive particles in the universe. — ©2024 The New York Times Company

EVERY morning, two dozen miners and engineers pack into a cage-like elevator for an 11-minute descent into the bowels of South Dakota’s Black Hills.

At the bottom, 1.5km beneath the surface, they step out into a rocky, twisting corridor. This leads to two vast caverns, each as high as a seven-storey building.

The Star Christmas Special Promo: Save 35% OFF Yearly. T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.02/month

Billed as RM 96.20 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Focus

What it’s like to be young and jobless
Bollywood’s box office bluff
Silicon Valley’s military turn
Jakarta surges past Tokyo
How Maduro aims to outlast Trump
Europe’s draft dilemma
Banking on collaboration
Freedom of expression in Malaysia: Setting back and forth
Ten years after the Paris Agreement, let’s redouble efforts
Thailand-Cambodia conflict: A thousand years of heritage shattered by military aggression

Others Also Read