Wukong sharpens its eyes for dark matter
Scientists have begun calibrating China's first dark matter probe in order to produce more accurate data, more than a month after the detector started to search for signals of the invisible material. The Dark Matter Particle Explorer Satellite, dubbed Wukong after the Monkey King character from the Chinese classic legend Journey to the West, was launched on Dec 17.
Like the Monkey King, who can see through objects with his sharp eyes, the satellite has the most sensitive and accurate detectors designed for dark matter.
Dark matter does not emit light or reflect electromagnetic radiation, but its existence can be inferred from its effects of measurements such as gravity and mass. It is one of the big mysteries of modern science. Exploration of dark matter could give scientists a clearer understanding of the past and future of galaxies and the universe.
