The Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL), which proponents hope could provide a niche for the US particle-physics community, faces a shutdown as early as 1 April; the National Science Board (NSB) has rejected $19 million in funding needed to keep the project going through the fall of this year. The lab is housed in a disused gold mine in South Dakota’s Black Hills.
The NSB’s decision could mean layoffs for the 100 state employees working at the former Homestake Mine and an end to NSF-funded scientific collaboration involving 60 individuals. Also this spring, the lab’s preliminary design is due to be submitted to NSF. Some $300 million of DUSEL’s $875 million estimated cost has been spent or committed already, including a $70 million donation from credit-card pioneer and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford. South Dakota, which has named the lab in Sanford’s honor, has pitched in $50 million from...
