Atomic clocks and frequency standards represent the pinnacle of precision timekeeping technology. By harnessing the natural oscillatory behaviour of atoms, these devices deliver unparalleled accuracy ...

Intersecting laser beams create "optical tubes" to pack atoms close together, enhancing their interaction and the performance of JILA's strontium atomic clock. Image by Richard B. Baxley/JILA In a ...

WASHINGTON — Researchers have demonstrated a new optical atomic clock that uses a single laser and doesn’t require cryogenic temperatures. By greatly reducing the size and complexity of atomic clocks ...

The timekeeping device is made with atomic nuclei of thorium, although it is not yet more precise than standard atomic clocks. Reading time 2 minutes Meet the “nuclear” clock: a device that marks the ...

The steady tick of a clock usually feels simple and dependable. Something swings or vibrates in a controlled rhythm and marks ...

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Have you ever wondered how the GPS in your phone or your car and pinpoint your location with such accuracy? It’s a matter of time atomic time, to be precise. The triangulation of ...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Scientists have made a major breakthrough that takes us a step closer to developing a nuclear ...

The way time is measured is on the edge of a historic upgrade. At the heart of this change is a new kind of atomic clock that uses light instead of microwaves. This shift means timekeeping could ...

Having good neighbors can be very valuable—even in the atomic world. A team of Amsterdam physicists was able to determine an important property of strontium atoms, a highly useful element for modern ...

Space probes that fly close to the sun might one day help to reveal the nature of dark matter, a new study finds. Dark matter is the invisible and largely intangible substance that researchers suggest ...