Boulby Underground Laboratory
1.1 kilometres beneath the North Yorkshire coast lies Boulby Underground Laboratory - the UK's deep underground science facility.
A unique deep underground science environment, enabling world-class research across a multitude of disciplines – including low-background particle physics and nuclear physics, Earth and environmental science, astrobiology and planetary exploration, and quantum technologies.
The science hosted at Boulby Underground Laboratory delivers regional, national and international impact while helping scientists answer fundamental questions about our universe and our place within it.
Science that goes deep
Deep underground science facilities are special places for science. One of only a dozen in the world, Boulby Underground Laboratory hosts studies that, crucially, can only be done by being deep underground.
Boulby Underground Laboratory offers an ultra-low background environment, with greatly reduced levels of radiation than what is experienced on the Earth’s surface. The facility also provides unique and valuable access to scientifically important deep underground evaporite geology.
Our science programme
Low background particle and nuclear physics
Hosting an array of projects from dark matter and neutrino detector R&D to high sensitivity material screening, our particle physics programme exploits the deep underground ultra‑low background environment for fundamental physics discoveries and applied particle detection technologies and techniques.
Astrobiology and planetary exploration
Granting access to deep subsurface and Mars‑analogue conditions, our astrobiology and planetary exploration programme supports research into life in extreme environments and the development of technologies for space and beyond-Earth planetary exploration.
Earth and environmental science
Situated within 250-million-year-old evaporite geology, our Earth sciences programme enables research and development into renewable energy production and storage, high sensitivity geological and environmental monitoring, carbon capture and storage, and more, in a uniquely accessible subsurface environment.
Quantum technologies
Boulby Underground Laboratory provides a secure, ultra-quiet environment for pure and applied quantum technology development and ultra-low interference quantum computing research.
Science-enabling capabilities - from surface to subsurface
Boulby Underground Laboratory provides facilities and expertise to make world-class discovery and innovation possible – in our surface cleanroom, our low-background material screening facility, our deep underground cleanroom spaces, or within the ancient geology of Boulby Mine itself.
From caverns to classroom
Our public engagement programme educates and inspires future scientists, engineers and technicians locally, nationally and internationally while opening up the fascinating world of underground science to schools, communities and the wider public.
Our impact
Enquiries
Interested in working with us? Get in touch to explore how Boulby Underground Laboratory can provide access to world-class underground facilities to support your research and outreach.
