What does the acronym DHARMA stand for in the TV series Lost?

In the TV series Lost, DHARMA stands for Department of Heuristics and Research on Material Applications.

The DHARMA Initiative is a fictional research project established on the island by Gerald and Karen DeGroot. Its stations conduct experiments involving psychology, electromagnetism, zoology, meteorology, and other scientific fields.

The acronym appears on the initiative’s logos, orientation films, station equipment, and supply materials. “Heuristics” refers broadly to practical methods for solving problems or discovering knowledge, while the full phrase reflects the group’s unusual combination of scientific research and material experimentation.

DHARMA is often confused with the Others because the groups occupy the island at different points in the story. The Others eventually take control of many DHARMA facilities, but they did not create the initiative. The project’s history is explored especially through flashbacks and time-travel episodes.