Scientists in Vienna and Beijing create world’s first nuclear clocks
Scientific teams in Vienna and Beijing have independently developed the world's first nuclear clocks using thorium-229 isotopes. These devices represent a significant leap in timekeeping precision, potentially surpassing current atomic clocks and opening new avenues for fundamental physics research.
Why it matters
Nuclear clocks could lead to more accurate GPS systems, better deep-space navigation, and new ways to test the fundamental laws of the universe.
Scientific teams working separately in Vienna and Beijing have developed the world’s first two operating nuclear clocks in what they are calling an important advance in timekeeping that promises wide-ranging practical applications and offers a new tool to investigate fundamental physics.The two devices represent the next generation of atomic clocks, the ultra-accurate timekeeping machines first created in 1949.
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