Quantum spin liquids (QSLs) are fascinating and mysterious states of matter that have intrigued scientists for decades. First proposed by Nobel laureate Philip Anderson in the 1970s, these materials break the conventional rules of magnetism by never settling into a stable magnetic state, even at temperatures close to absolute zero.

Instead, the spins of the atoms within them remain constantly fluctuating and entangled, creating a kind of magnetic “liquid.” This unusual behavior is driven by a phenomenon called magnetic frustration, where competing forces prevent the system from reaching a single, ordered configuration.

QSLs are notoriously difficult to study. Unlike ordinary magnetic materials, they don’t show the usual signs of magnetic transitions, which makes it hard to detect and understand them using traditional techniques. As a result, their behavior has remained an elusive puzzle for researchers.