Sanford Underground Research Facility

06/12/2026

📸 Photo of the Week: Captured by 2025 Photowalk winner Elena Nash during Neutrino Day 2025, this moment highlights the energy and excitement of the day. Mark your calendar—Neutrino Day 2026 is coming up on July 11!

06/11/2026

Neutrino Day wouldn’t happen without the incredible support of our community partners and sponsors. Hear why they’re excited to be part of this celebration of science, discovery, and community support! 🔬✨

We’re just one month away from this year’s event, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back for another great day in Lead on July 11!

06/10/2026

Luke Scott started on-site in 1990 while the property was still the Homestake Gold Mine. Before it closed in 2001, Luke was mining on the 8000 Level—the deepest part of the underground infrastructure and a place few miners ever reached.

Throughout his career, he contributed to major milestones, including the excavation of the Davis Campus, and helped build and maintain the infrastructure that supports world-class science underground today.

As Luke heads into retirement, we thank him for his decades of hard work, leadership, and commitment to SURF. Congratulations, Luke!

06/08/2026

ICYMI: New research using samples from underground at SURF shows microbial life isn’t random—it organizes into functional “workforces,” with stable core communities and fast-responding specialists that keep the deep biosphere running in extreme conditions.

Read more 👉

Scientists repeatedly sampled microbes from six sites up to 1.5 kilometers deep across four years inside a former goldmine. Microbial ecosystems appear to be structured around shared functions rather than shared species.

06/05/2026

Erica Lane Harvey, one of the 2025 Photowalk winners, captured this image during the 2025 celebration of Neutrino Day. Join us for Neutrino Day on July 11!

06/04/2026

Congratulations to Al Stratman, who is retiring after nearly 10 years as the director of Engineering at SURF!

His tenure spanned a time of significant growth at SURF, including the installation of world-class experiments such as LZ and DUNE, alongside major upgrades to the facility’s water and air infrastructure.

“We are so fortunate to have had Al at the helm of our engineering team for the past 10 years,” said Mike Headley, the executive director of the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority (SDSTA) and SURF laboratory director. “Under Al's leadership, we’ve modernized the engineering support for day-to-day operations with tools such as a new site-wide geographic information system (GIS). Also, our engineering team has led the design and construction of over 20 infrastructure improvement projects during Al’s tenure, consistently delivering them on time and on budget to ensure SURF will be able to support science for decades to come.”

Read more: https://sanfordlab.org/news/engineering-higher-purpose-al-stratman-retires

06/03/2026

The latest independent safety review of SURF delivered outstanding results, recognizing the ongoing efforts of SDSTA staff, contractors, and partners to maintain a strong culture of safety, security, and environmental stewardship.

The 2026 Environment, Safety, Health Advisory Committee (ESHAC) review praised SURF's mature approach to risk management, noting that environment, safety, and health are fully integrated into operations, construction, and science as a core business principle.

As we recognize National Safety Month, we're proud of this achievement—but we know safety is never finished. Continuous improvement remains essential to protecting our team, visitors, and the environment.

Pictured here, SURF crews and contractors work together during a recent rope change on the Ross Hoist. Work like this reflects the commitment that has helped SURF achieve millions of hours without a major injury or incident.

Read more: https://sanfordlab.org/news/surf-receives-excellent-eshac-annual-review

06/02/2026

June is National Safety Month, and at SURF, safety remains the foundation of everything we do.

As our first core value, Safety Focused means we do not compromise safety or endanger the environment. Whether underground, on the surface, in the laboratory, or welcoming visitors, safety is a responsibility shared by every employee, contractor, and guest.

📸: Stephen Kenny, SURF

06/01/2026

Welcome to our 2026 interns and Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) participants!

Last week, the cohort toured the 4850 Level and explored several underground experiments, including LZ, CASPAR, and the DUNE caverns.

We’re excited to see this group gain hands-on experience and spend the summer learning at America’s Underground Lab.

📸: Matt Kapust, SURF

05/29/2026

Our photo of the week comes from Josue R Laboy, one of the 2025 Photowalk winners, who captured this image of South Dakota Mines emeritus professor Colin Paterson, showing a set of minerals and rocks to a Neutrino Day attendee.

Mark your calendar for Neutrino Day 2026 on July 11 and explore all sorts of rocks, minerals, and fossils from the Museum of Geology at South Dakota Mines!