LHC study brings scientists a step closer to dark matter discovery

• Physicists have carried out the first full run of experiments that smash protons together at almost the speed of light, bringing them a step closer towards the discovery of dark matter.
• Dark matter is an invisible substance that we cannot detect directly but whose presence is inferred from the rotation of galaxies.
• Researchers said the experiment would help them either confirm or rule out one of the primary theories that could solve many of the outstanding questions of particle physics, known as Supersymmetry (SUSY).

Supersymmetry

Many physicists have developed theories of supersymmetry, particularly in the context of Grand Unified Theories, which attempt to unify the Strong, Weak, and Electromagnetic interactions to help explain why particles have the masses they have. The supersymmetric theory postulates that every particle we observe has a massive "shadow" particle partner. For example, for every quark there may be a so-called "squark" tagging along.

No supersymmetric particle has yet been seen, but experiments underway at CERN beginning in Autumn 1995 have searched for the partner of the W boson, and experiments at Fermilab are looking for the partners of the quarks and gluons.

One of the supersymmetric particles (the "neutralino") might make up the missing dark matter.