# What laboratory experiments can teach us about cosmology: A chameleon example

## TL;DR

Laboratory experiments, exemplified by the chameleon model, can provide valuable insights into cosmological theories of dark energy and dark matter by testing gravity modifications on small scales.

## Contribution

This paper reviews recent theoretical developments of the chameleon model and discusses how laboratory experiments can test its non-linear behavior.

## Key findings

- Chameleon model can be tested in laboratory settings.
- Laboratory experiments can constrain theories of modified gravity.
- Recent theoretical advances facilitate experimental testing of cosmological models.

## Abstract

Laboratory experiments can shed light on theories of new physics introduced in order to explain cosmological mysteries, including the nature of dark energy and dark matter. In this article I will focus on one particular example of this, the chameleon model. The chameleon is an example of a theory which could modify gravity on cosmological distance scales, but its non-linear behavior means that it can also be tested with suitably designed laboratory experiments. The aim of this overview is to present recent theoretical developments to the experimental community.