Physicists’ best models contend that dark matter comprises the vast majority of the total matter in our Universe, but this mysterious matter remains elusive and has gone undetected.

Fundamental research undertaken at EQUS to detect dark matter has also yielded technologies that will save lives—such as better medical imaging and pharmaceuticals.

Two advances in particular stand out:

Firstly, squeezed light advances developed in the search for black holes have led to quantum microscopes, which will improve medical diagnostics and ultimately save lives. This work has also motivated the creation of a new Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology.

The second: twisted cavity resonator technology developed to detect dark matter is also capable of detecting molecular chirality (or ‘handedness’). This enables the creation of better, safer and more effective medicines and is currently being commercialised.