A NIST researcher’s expertise in physics helps ensure that airport security machines are tested effectively, keeping you safer in the skies.
Author: WeWorldMedia-admin
Scientists built a tiny clock from single-electron jumps to probe the true energy cost of quantum timekeeping. They discovered that reading the clock’s output requires vastly more energy than the clock uses to function. This measurement process also drives the irreversibility that defines time’s forward direction. The insight could push researchers to rethink how quantum devices handle information.
The 5th Quantum Matters in Materials Science (QMMS) workshop organized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will be held as an in-person only event at the NIST Gaithersburg campus, Maryland on February 18-19, 2026. The
Electrons can freeze into strange geometric crystals and then melt back into liquid-like motion under the right quantum conditions. Researchers identified how to tune these transitions and even discovered a bizarre “pinball” state where some electrons stay locked in place while others dart around freely. Their simulations help explain how these phases form and how they might be harnessed for advanced quantum technologies.