No one knows what dark matter is. Despite suggestive astronomical evidence, there are no experimental measurements of its properties. But if dark matter consists of so-called "axionlike particles", then it can cause small oscillations in the shape of nuclei. These oscillations can be amplified through electron-nucleus interactions, leading to measurable effects in atoms.

I will explain these ideas and describe how we search for dark matter (and other signs of strange new physics) in the basement of McLennan.

Spoiler: we haven't found any. Yet.