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NIST Unveils Chip-scale Atomic Clock

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the and-it-fits-in-the-oh-never-mind dept.

grumling writes "The heart of a minuscule atomic clock, believed to be 100 times smaller than any other atomic clock has been demonstrated by scientists at the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), opening the door to atomically precise timekeeping in portable, battery-powered devices for secure wireless communications, more precise navigation and other applications. "

2 of 172 comments (clear)

  1. Great for GPS by DustMagnet · · Score: 5, Interesting

    With a atomic clock in a GPS you no longer need to solve for time, so you can get the same quality position with one less satellite. There are times where this could make a huge difference.

    --
    'SBEMAIL!' is better than a goat!!
  2. Gravity by Anonymous+Writer · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Since atomic clocks can be used to measure effects of gravity, it would be interesting to see how mass producing atomic clock chips could be used to create maps of gravity, seeing how they can be used to reveal geological information.