26.02.2026
The nature of dark matter is hidden. Particles of different masses come into consideration as candidates. For some time now, researchers have been looking for very light dark matter particles, for which new detection methods have to be developed.
A working group at the Max Planck Institute for Physics has experimented with sugar as a detector material for the first time. The first tests were promising – but the sweet substance is not a sure-fire success.
CRESST is an experiment designed for light WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles) dark matter particles. The detection principle is based on behavior that is familiar from balls in a game of billiards: If a dark matter particle hits one of the atomic nuclei in the crystal, it rebounds. The energy of the recoil can be measured as a minimal increase in temperature and as faint light.
The benefits of sugar
Special detector materials are needed to detect light dark matter, as Federica Petricca, scientist at the MPP and spokesperson for CRESST, explains: “We are constantly looking for new, suitable materials. The lighter their atomic nuclei are, the better. Because a very light dark matter particle can hardly disturb a heavy atomic nucleus, just as little as a marble that hits a bowling ball.”
Their considerations led the scientists to normal household sugar, sucrose. “The idea initially seemed absurd to us because there was no evidence of previous tests,” reports Federica Petricca. The material is almost perfect: crystal sugar has a total of 22 hydrogen atoms in addition to carbon and oxygen. And with just one proton, hydrogen is the lightest element in existence.
However, dark matter will probably not be discovered with sugar cubes from the supermarket. “Since we need particularly pure and large crystals for our experiments, we have to grow them ourselves in a complex process that takes several weeks,” explains Federica Petricca.
Promising results
The sugar pieces were equipped with temperature and light sensors and exposed to a radioactive source. A light signal and an increase in temperature were actually recorded on the crystal. “We were surprised by the result because sucrose forms a rather soft crystal,” explains Federica Petricca. “Materials with a solid crystal lattice are cheaper because there is a larger temperature change after a particle collision.”
Nevertheless, the team is very satisfied with its creative, “sweet” approach: “We have shown for the first time that sugar is fundamentally suitable as a material for detecting dark matter,” says Federica Petricca. “However, it will only become apparent after many more tests and comparisons with other materials whether a detector made of sucrose can be realized.” So the sugar still has to prove itself.
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Source: Max Planck Institute for Physics (MPP)