The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer aboard the International Space Station will be used to gather data on antimatter. Credit: NASA
A UH Mānoa project investigating one of the greatest mysteries in modern physics has been awarded $600,000 by the National Science Foundation. The three-year project is studying potential signs of antimatter—particles with an opposite charge to ordinary matter—which could provide evidence of dark matter and possibly reveal new realms of physics. Dark matter makes up roughly 85% of the universe’s mass but remains invisible and largely unknown. The project is being led by UH Mānoa Physics and Astronomy professor Philip Von Doetinchem and uses data gathered by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) aboard the International Space Station.
“By carefully scrutinizing our antimatter search data that we collected in space, we’re not just pushing the boundaries of science, we’re also heading toward a new era in particle astrophysics,” Doetinchem said.