Physicists on cutting edge in search for dark matter

China is joining the global competition on a scientific frontier - the search for dark matter - with new research instruments and facilities in place that heighten anticipation for answers.

On Thursday, the Chinese Academy of Sciences launched the country's first dark matter satellite, which will be in service for three years to search for signs of the mystery substance, as well as to study the origin of cosmic rays and observe gamma rays.

"We hope we are lucky enough to become the first team in the world to find dark matter," said Chang Jin, deputy director of the academy's Purple Mountain Observatory.