How Microgravity Enables Larger Quantum Objects At -459°F

NASA astronauts recently activated an upgraded facility aboard the International Space Station capable of chilling atoms to minus 459 degrees Fahrenheit, just above absolute zero, to explore quantum physics. About the size of a minifridge, the Cold Atom Lab enables researchers to create Bose-Einstein condensates , or BECs, that exhibit wave-like behavior. This microgravity environment allows for the creation of larger, longer-lasting quantum waves than possible on Earth, pushing the boundaries of quantum research. “At the coldest temperatures, matter behaves drastically different from anything we have experienced,” said Jason Williams, project scientist for Cold Atom Lab at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which built the facility; the upgraded lab, which launched on April 11, now supports five international teams studying fundamental physics and testing quantum tools for future missions.