Direct detection of dark matter

Direct detection of dark matter refers to experimental efforts aimed at observing dark matter particles through their interactions with normal matter. Dark matter is believed to make up about 27% of the universe's mass-energy content, yet it does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it invisible and detectable only through its gravitational effects. Direct detection experiments primarily focus on identifying weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), which are among the leading candidates for dark matter.