Slashdot Mirror
New Atomic Clock Pushes Boundaries of Accuracy
Neophytus writes "An interesting story on the BBC reports on how a new type of atomic clock is near completion that would only loose about a second in every 100 million years. Within ten years they hope to have a clock with billion year accuracy which would potentially bring advances in disease research by watching timing genes. More reports from this year's AAAS Annual meeting can be found on the BBC, and information about the event on the AAAS Annual Meeting website."
"...that would only loose about a second in every 100 million years"
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How can people continue to do this? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGG
However I must say that I am puzzled how any new higher precision timing source will directly help biological research in the area of genes. I did follow the recent reports of a genetic timing mechanisms being discovered but how does adding another step of resolution to the best available time source have anything to do with this research? Likely this the new clock will be far removed from any lab doing work with the genetic material in many ways -- geographic, propagation and subject matter. The currently available clocks are certainly no slouches. Are they not sufficient for biological work? How is an improved one going to help?
In part, I ask about this particular point because, while somewhat weakly addressed in the article, it was repeated on /. I am seriously hoping a little light could be shed -- preferably based on knowledge not speculation.
All my previous sigs now look like this one, I wish they were permanetly recorded when used.
quantum physics, when you're "looking" at particles that are so small you cannot even see them but have to examine how theyre interacting with larger particles, that .001 +% accuracy with timing helps, a lot.
this is not a sig.
Actually, I was going to say, that I bet it only loses 1 second every 100 million years, except if you take the clock around real fast. Then it will seem to lose all kinds of seconds.
But everyone will just say, "proves special relativity again" instead of "proves that moving fast messes up the timing of atomic clocks".