A supersolid is a paradoxical state of matter—it is rigid like a crystal but flows without friction like a superfluid. This exotic form of quantum matter has only recently been realized in dipolar quantum gases.

Researchers led by Francesca Ferlaino set out to explore how the solid and superfluid properties of a supersolid interact, particularly under rotation. The study is published in Nature Physics.

In their experiments, they rotated a supersolid quantum gas using a carefully controlled magnetic field and observed a striking phenomenon.