Beneath Our Feet: How a Science Budget Crisis Threatens the Search for Dark Matter
Deep underground, where silence and stability reign, scientists are hunting for the universe's most elusive secrets. But their work faces a threat from a place you might not expect: the halls of Washington D.C.
In an Australian gold mine turned physics laboratory, researchers are preparing for a cosmic treasure hunt. The Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory (SUPL) is one of several facilities worldwide built deep beneath the Earth's surface, where scientists shield sensitive experiments from the constant barrage of cosmic radiation that bombards our planet. Here, in the profound quiet, they hope to finally detect dark matter—the invisible substance that makes up about 85% of the universe's mass.
Yet, as equipment begins its journey into the underground lab with data collection expected by the end of 2025, these revolutionary experiments face an earthly challenge: a growing budget shortfall at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) that could derail not just dark matter research but numerous projects relying on underground laboratories 3 .
Did You Know?
The NSF has historically funded about 25% of federally supported basic research at American colleges and universities 1 2 .
This isn't just about one experiment in Australia. From South Dakota to Italy, underground labs are at the center of cutting-edge research that could redefine our understanding of the universe and transform how we power our society.
Why Science Goes Underground
To understand why scientists are heading deep underground, you need to know about the noise. The Earth's surface is constantly showered with cosmic rays—high-energy particles from space that create a persistent background "static" that can drown out the subtle signals physicists seek.
Natural Shield
Underground labs provide a natural shield. The rock overhead acts as a cosmic filter, absorbing most of these particles and creating an exceptionally quiet environment.
Quiet Environment
This allows ultrasensitive detectors to potentially hear the faint "whisper" of a dark matter particle interacting with ordinary matter—something that would be impossible on the surface.
But dark matter isn't the only research happening beneath our feet. At the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in South Dakota—the deepest underground lab in the United States—scientists are also pioneering the next generation of geothermal energy 7 .
"There's one of the exciting things about this location. Here we have control over water temperature, water chemistry, and we know the rock types, and that's something that's never been done before."
Their work on Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) could eventually allow construction of geothermal power plants almost anywhere on the planet, potentially powering more than 65 million American homes and businesses 7 .
The NSF Budget Crisis: By the Numbers
The National Science Foundation has long been the bedrock of fundamental scientific research in the United States. With an annual budget historically around $9-10 billion, the NSF has funded approximately 11,000 awards annually supporting more than 350,000 researchers, postdoctoral fellows, teachers, and students nationwide 1 .
NSF Budget Changes (2019-2025)
*Estimated based on current budget trends
This foundation is now facing unprecedented pressure. The 2022 CHIPS and Science Act had envisioned nearly doubling NSF's budget, but instead, the agency is confronting a $6.6 billion shortfall from those targets 1 .
| Fiscal Year | Budget Status | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9.4 billion (estimated) | 8% cut from prior year due to Fiscal Responsibility Act spending caps 1 2 |
| 2025 | Continuing Resolution through September 2025 | Topline funding secured but lacks detailed program guidance 1 |
| 2026+ | Potential cuts to $3-4 billion annually | Unconfirmed rumors of drastic future reductions 1 |
The situation became more dire in early 2025 when the administration eliminated the "emergency spending" designation for NSF's $234 million Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) budget 1 5 . This account is specifically for large-scale projects costing over $100 million—exactly the type of infrastructure that underground labs require.
| Threatened Project | Planned Funding | Consequence of Cuts |
|---|---|---|
| Antarctic Infrastructure | $60 million requested | Risk to U.S. Antarctic Program as critical facilities degrade 5 |
| Leadership-Class Computing Facility | $154 million requested | Delay to advanced supercomputer for AI applications 5 |
| Mid-Scale Infrastructure | $85 million requested | Loss of weather radar systems, astronomy instrumentation 5 |
"The CR, however, lacks detailed programmatic guidance. It thus grants significant discretionary power over internal fund allocation to agency leadership operating under White House influence."
Beyond infrastructure, the NSF has already canceled more than 1,500 grants and contracts, totaling over $1 billion in research funding. An analysis of these cancellations found that nearly 90% included terms related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, signaling a significant shift in research priorities 6 .
A Deeper Look: The SABRE South Dark Matter Experiment
At the heart of the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory is the SABRE South experiment, specifically designed to investigate one of physics' most perplexing mysteries. For decades, the DAMA/LIBRA experiment in Italy has claimed to detect a mysterious signal that varies with the seasons—exactly what scientists would expect if dark matter particles were washing through Earth as we orbit through our galaxy's dark matter halo 3 .
Yet no other experiment has been able to confirm this finding. SABRE South aims to change that by providing data from the Southern Hemisphere to corroborate or challenge the Italian results.
Inside the SABRE South Detector
The experiment's technical design, recently published in the Journal of Instrumentation, reveals an exquisitely sensitive instrument built around several key components 3 :
Ultra-Pure Sodium-Iodide Crystals
These are the heart of the detector. When a dark matter particle (theorized to be a WIMP or Weakly Interacting Massive Particle) occasionally bumps into an atomic nucleus in these crystals, it should produce a tiny flash of light.
Photomultiplier Tubes
These devices amplify the tiny flashes of light into measurable electrical signals.
Light-Reflecting Encasement
The crystals are housed in containers lined with highly reflective material to ensure even the faintest light signals are captured.
Liquid Scintillator Veto
The entire assembly is surrounded by a liquid that glows when struck by stray particles that aren't dark matter, allowing scientists to filter out background noise.
Muon Detectors
These identify muons (cosmic ray particles that can penetrate deep underground) that might mimic dark matter signals.
"For almost a decade we have been working towards this point. This publication shows how much planning, research and innovation has been undertaken to enable us to play such a significant role in the global search for dark matter."
The entire system is designed to achieve unprecedented purity and sensitivity, potentially allowing SABRE South to either confirm the DAMA/LIBRA findings or demonstrate that the signal comes from something more conventional than dark matter—either outcome would be a major advancement in fundamental physics.
| Component | Function | Why It's Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium-Iodide Crystals | Target for dark matter interactions | Their high purity reduces false signals from radioactive contaminants 3 |
| Photomultiplier Tubes | Detect faint light signals | Convert single photons of light into measurable electrical currents 3 |
| Liquid Scintillator Veto | Identify background particles | Tags conventional radiation so it can be distinguished from potential dark matter 3 |
| Muon Detectors | Track cosmic rays | Identifies penetrating particles that could mimic dark matter signals 3 |
| Data Acquisition System | Records and processes signals | Sophisticated software distinguishes potential dark matter interactions from noise 3 |
Beyond the Lab: The Ripple Effects of Research Cuts
The potential derailing of projects like SABRE South represents just one facet of the broader impact of NSF budget shortfalls. These cuts threaten to undermine America's scientific workforce, educational pipeline, and position as a global research leader.
Workforce Development in the Balance
NSF funding doesn't just support senior scientists—it's the lifeblood of training for the next generation of researchers, technicians, and engineers.
Threats to STEM Education
The NSF's educational mission extends far beyond university research labs to community colleges and technical education programs.
Global Leadership at Stake
As other countries ramp up their research investments, U.S. cuts could have long-term consequences for American competitiveness.
Workforce Development in the Balance
As Lachlan Milligan, a Ph.D. candidate working on SABRE South, noted: "It's great to be part of a project like this near the start, as Ph.D. candidates often don't experience the process of building the experiment... It's exciting to see it all come to fruition" 3 .
The CUSSP geothermal project at SURF similarly involves approximately 40 researchers assisted by many undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students 7 . Kevin Rosso emphasizes this point: "CUSSP is an engine for the next generation of leaders who will be calling the shots for enhanced geothermal systems. I'm particularly excited about just seeing the students working on this project, many of them will make their careers here" 7 .
Threats to STEM Education and the Middle Class
The NSF's educational mission extends far beyond university research labs. Through programs like the Advanced Technological Education initiative, the NSF has supported more than 600 community colleges since the early 1990s .
"NSF funding opens community college pathways to the future of work and the American Dream."
The proposed budget cuts could be particularly devastating to this mission, with one analysis noting potential "75% cut to the agency's STEM education directorate" .
Global Scientific Leadership at Stake
As other countries ramp up their research investments, U.S. cuts could have long-term consequences for American competitiveness. While the SABRE South project continues with Australian leadership, the collaboration exemplifies the international nature of big science—and how U.S. scientists could be left behind if funding disappears.
"Other labs in countries like China, Canada, Russia, Italy, and the United Kingdom are all competing for similar advancements in underground science," noted one report about geothermal research at SURF 7 . This echoes broader concerns that "China is quickly catching up and could be the world's top R&D spender by 2030" 1 .
The Road Ahead
The uncertainty facing underground labs reflects a broader tension in how society values long-term fundamental research. Projects like SABRE South represent a class of scientific exploration that asks profound questions about the nature of our universe but may not deliver immediate practical applications.
Yet as the geothermal research at SURF demonstrates, the infrastructure developed for basic science often enables unexpected technological breakthroughs. The same ultra-sensitive detectors developed for dark matter research might one day lead to new medical imaging technologies, just as the web was born from particle physics collaborations.
2024
Equipment being moved into the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory
Late 2025
SABRE South expected to begin taking data 3
2026+
Potential for significant NSF budget cuts that could impact future research
With equipment now being moved into the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory, researchers remain hopeful that SABRE South will be taking data by the end of 2025 3 . But the NSF budget shortfall serves as a reminder that scientific progress depends not just on brilliant ideas and hard work, but on stable societal support for the basic infrastructure of discovery—both above ground and below.
"Canceling these projects will have consequences for the researchers and scientists directly engaged in the research, the schools and communities that rely on these funds, and the students and educational programs the projects sought to improve and expand."
The search for dark matter continues in the quiet darkness underground, but the decisions that will ultimately determine the fate of these experiments are happening in the brightly lit halls of power.