Waiting Space: A Town, And Science, Wait for Deliverance By Dark Matter

The LUX-ZEPLIN dark matter experiment sits in Lead, South Dakota, where the townspeople were promised the multi-million dollar project would bring jobs and money back to the mining town. But, it turns out, both the researchers and the people who live there are still waiting.
Editor’s Note (1/26/24):
The laboratory described throughout this video is the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), and the descriptions of searches for dark matter described throughout regard the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment, one of the several experiments at SURF (1:45: • Waiting Space: A Town,... .
The full name of the LZ experiment is “LUX-ZEPLIN,” not “LUX-ZEPELIN” (13:47: • Waiting Space: A Town,... .
The mine described throughout the video is the former Homestake Gold Mine. SURF is a dedicated research facility at the site of this former mine. The mine was abandoned in the sense that its previous owners ceased mining operations there (13:57: • Waiting Space: A Town,... .
SURF has reported that a 2022 study found that, through 2029, the facility’s economic impact in South Dakota “is projected to reach $2 billion (sanfordlab.org/feature/econom..., which includes $651 million in household earnings for South Dakotans, and 1,178 jobs annually.” Additionally, its Education and Outreach program (sanfordlab.org/feature/educat...) has included several public outreach efforts (sanfordlab.org/feature/public...) in the community.

[@djdanno13]

Wow, this was really well done! Bravo and thank you for sharing Lead

[@anandbhatia780]

Was not expecting such fire filmmaking from scientific American.

[@anandbhatia780]

This reminds me of a Christpher Nolan-level film or something its really amazing.

[@philh4820]

The intro has a really artsy feel to it.

[@martagemelli6645]

I am not a scientist or a long time local. I have lived in Lead for almost 4 years. If anyone is worried or wondering about the lab, every 2nd Thursday afternoon at the Visitors Center, there is an "Ask a Scientist" session. They'll answer any question! As for SURF not bringing the vitality and people back to Homestake levels, there is already a housing shortage here for family-priced homes. I would hate to think where we'd be living if 2,000 scientists came at once. Which leads to my final comment. I don't think there is a house on Mill Street that hasn't already been rehabbed or is currently in the process of being fixed up. What made SA choose the ONE house that hasn't been fixed up? That has peeling paint? It's clear SA wants to make Lead look so sad. The little girl with one ballet slipper! Geez! The dark lighting and ominous music! Come visit Lead. See for yourself what it's like.

[@svennors2419]

wow. you nailed that

[@davidcrowner292]

Does anyone know the name of the fantastic and mesmerizing Opera singer?

[@djdanno13]

Thomas Golden, he was the Executive director of the Opera House

[@listener6596]

🎉wayback to knowledge

[@dphuntsman]

A really, really interesting take on things. I’m glad SciAm did this; because sometimes, it’s not just about reporting on the science itself. In the case of Lead and the people- what remained of it- even after the Lab moved in, it’s pretty clear that the Lab’s ‘public outreach/public input’ function is, well, something that could stand to be improved. But on the opposite side: The preacher also seems to think that scientists, who are searching for what’s true, no matter where that takes them…also wants her (irrational) religious beliefs respected as equally valid…which, in the search for what’s true, they, frankly, are not.

[@user-bt6qd8it1d]

The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater. Frank Zappa

[@SolaceEasy]

Same ole story: Over promise and under deliver.

[@GreenCurryiykyk]

Give her a break. It was probably ingrained in her in seminary, and a small town pastor has to be optimistic.

[@BartonHNewell]

Of course the pastor turns it in to a persecution fetish.

[@djdanno13]

I think you completely misunderstood everything the pastor said. Did she ever once mention that the lab was attacking God?

[@norb.engineering]

@@djdanno13 she said "intelligent design " the conversation killer.