Baryon acoustic oscillations provides a “standard ruler” for the Universe, a way to measure the details of dark energy.

Gravitational lensing, which depends on Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity, directly tests its ability to predict the growth of large-scale structure.

BOSS, the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey, is the most ambitious attempt yet to map the expansion history of the Universe using the technique known as baryon acoustic oscillation. BOSS achieved first light on September 14 with an upgraded spectrographic system on the 2.5-meter telescope at Apache Point Observatory.

U.S. Department of Energy scientists and administrators join members of the National Science Foundation and South Dakota’s Sanford Underground Laboratory for the deepest journey yet to the proposed site of the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL).