For the first time, scientists used an atomic nucleus as a clock. Two independent teams report nuclear clocks based on thorium-229 in calcium fluoride crystals. One team used its clock to search for dark matter, finding no signs, but estimated sensitivity to some dark matter types rivaled or beat atomic clocks. The work is early and papers have not been peer reviewed.
An analysis of 220 days of LUX-ZEPLIN data has found a single particle interaction consistent with dark matter. At 2.6 sigma, it falls short of physics thresholds for evidence or detection, and researchers say more data are needed to know what it is.
