Laboratories in the ground

To cater to studies of the composition of the universe such as particle physics or dark matter, experts have built many special underground laboratories.

1. SNOLAB, Canada

SNOLAB is a 2,000m deep underground laboratory, below the Vale Creighton mine in Sudbury, Canada. While nickel miners, SNOLAB experts focus on particle physics and cosmic particles. Here, experts also perform experiments that demonstrate the existence of dark matter. (Photo: sciencenorth.ca)

2. Large Hadron Collider, Switzerland

Large Hadron Collider is the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator built by the European Nuclear Research Organization (CERN). The machine is contained in a 27 km circumference tunnel, at a depth of 175m above the ground, in an area near Geneva, Switzerland. This place is designed to perform direct collision experiments between protons. Through experiments, experts hope to study the formation of the universe. The radiation generated from the operation of this giant laboratory will not cause any danger, as it is designed with thick layers of barrier stone. (Photo: CERN)

3. Soudan Laboratory, USA

This is a laboratory built right in the old iron mine in the state of Minnesota, USA, located at a depth of about 800m above the ground. At this underground laboratory, experts performed research on the nature of dark matter and neutrinos, a type of subatomic particles that played a fundamental role in the formation of the universe. (Photo: Fermilab)

4. Gran Sasso National Laboratory, Italy

Gran Sasso is an underground laboratory built to carry out researches to search for neutrinos, cosmic rays and other particles emitted from space. The laboratory is located next to a tunnel between L'Aquila and Teramo, Italy, about 120km from Rome. (Photo: Paolo Lombardi INFN-MI)

5. Large Underground Xenon Detector, USA

The Large Underground Xenon Detector laboratory is located at a depth of 1.5 km, beneath the Black Hills, South Dakota, and US mountains. This is where experts perform research on dark matter and search for cosmic particles. According to results published in October 2013, scientists said no evidence of dark matter was found after 3 months of the exploration experiment. However, they are still planning the next research in the future. (Photo: Sanford Laboratory)

6. Underground research facility, Canada

According to experts at the University of Toronto, the underground laboratory of Canadian Atomic Energy Company was built to test methods of storing and processing nuclear fuel. The research facility is located in the state of Manito, at a depth of 440m underground. (Photo: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited)