Time crystals represent a new phase of matter proposed by Frank Wilczek, the Nobel laureate of Physics in 2004; they can break original time-translation symmetry and create new time oscillations spontaneously.
Recently, a joint research team from the National Time Service Center (NTSC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanghai Jiao Tong University observed a time crystal in a spin maser system.
The results are published in Communications Physics.
Scientists have developed a dual-laser Brillouin optical correlation-domain reflectometry (BOCDR) system that uses two frequency-modulated lasers. By scanning the relative modulation phase between the pump and reference lasers, the setup measures strain and temperature all along an optical fiber. In a proof-of-concept test on a 13-meter silica fiber, the team recorded Brillouin gain spectra (BGS) at only about 200 MHz—over 50 times lower than the usual 11 GHz band.
The research was published in the Journal of Physics: Photonics on April 25, 2025.
“The dual-laser approach makes BOCDR equipment simpler, more cost-effective, and easier to deploy, giving engineers a practical tool for long-term structural health monitoring, factory process control, and many other sensing tasks,” said senior author Associate Professor Yosuke Mizuno of Yokohama National University.
Medieval alchemists dreamed of transmuting lead into gold. Today, we know that lead and gold are different elements, and no amount of chemistry can turn one into the other.
But our modern knowledge tells us the basic difference between an atom of lead and an atom of gold: the lead atom contains exactly three more protons. So can we create a gold atom by simply pulling three protons out of a lead atom?
As it turns out, we can. But it’s not easy.
The study presents new evidence that infants are capable of learning words solely through exposure to language. Human language enables us to learn the meanings of words for things we’ve never directly experienced. We do this effortlessly in everyday conversation, often using context to infer the me
Mysterious magnetar flares might be the hidden engines behind gold, uranium—and maybe life itself.
Scientists at CERN have achieved what medieval alchemists only dreamed of: turning lead into gold.
A new study combining satellite imagery with genetic analysis reveals that climate and land use changes are driving increased vegetation growth in Europe’s mountain regions, ultimately leading to a decline in the genetic diversity of medicinal plants such as Greek mountain tea. Mountain regions a.
A bold new quantum theory of gravity may finally bridge the long-standing rift between Einstein’s general relativity and quantum field theory. This potential “Theory of Everything” could answer some of the deepest mysteries in science—from black hole singularities to the origins of the universe—w
A mathematician has developed an algebraic solution to an equation that was long thought to be unsolvable. A groundbreaking discovery from a UNSW Sydney mathematician may finally offer a solution to one of algebra’s toughest problems: how to solve high-degree polynomial equations. Polynomials
Crystals are not alive, yet they grow, form complex structures, and even conduct electricity. Could life emerge from crystals rather than carbon-based molecules? Explore the intriguing possibility of crystal-based lifeforms, the challenges they would face, and the conditions where they might thrive. We journey to five exotic worlds—Vulcan, Ribbon World, Longenacht, Telluride, and Tempest—each offering unique environments where crystalline life might take hold. Could such life develop naturally, or might humanity one day engineer it? Join us as we dive into the cutting-edge science and speculative possibilities of crystalline biology.
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/ discord Credits: Crystal Aliens Episode 436a; March 1, 2024 Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur Graphics: Jeremy Jozwik, Real Courte Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator.
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Credits:
Crystal Aliens.
Episode 436a; March 1, 2024
Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur.
Graphics: Jeremy Jozwik, Real Courte.
Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator
