World’s first stand-alone nuclear clock
Physicist Thorsten Schumm discusses the development of the world's first stand-alone nuclear clock. Unlike traditional atomic clocks, this device uses atomic nuclei to achieve high precision in a more robust, portable format.
Why it matters
This breakthrough could lead to highly accurate, portable timekeeping devices that function outside of controlled laboratory environments.
“I apologise for the delayed response. The media attention is beyond anything I expected.” That was not an email from the Nobel Prize Committee - but from Thorsten Schumm in Vienna when we asked him whether he’d like to appear on The Naked Scientists. We’ll let him off because he’s because he’s behind the world’s first self-setting nuclear clock, and his inbox has been deluged. He kindley took time out to speak with Chris Smith…
Thorsten - We tried to build a new type of precision timekeeping instrument, which we call a nuclear clock, which uses an atomic nucleus to set time.
Chris - Why do we need that? Haven't we got atomic clocks already that are extremely good?
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