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Scientist Investigate A Brand New Form of Matter: Time Crystals (sciencealert.com)
The discovery of "non-equilibrium matter" could re-write the rules of physics. Long-time Slashdot reader jasonbrown quotes ScienceAlert: For months now, there's been speculation that researchers might have finally created time crystals — strange crystals that have an atomic structure that repeats not just in space, but in time, putting them in perpetual motion without energy. Now it's official — researchers have just reported in detail how to make and measure these bizarre crystals. And two independent teams of scientists claim they've actually created time crystals in the lab based off this blueprint, confirming the existence of an entirely new form of matter.
Both teams -- one at Harvard and the other at the University of Maryland -- have submitted their findings to peer-reviewed publications, according to the article, and "the fact that two separate teams have used the same blueprint to make time crystals out of vastly different systems is promising."
Both teams -- one at Harvard and the other at the University of Maryland -- have submitted their findings to peer-reviewed publications, according to the article, and "the fact that two separate teams have used the same blueprint to make time crystals out of vastly different systems is promising."
While cool i agree, and i can see perhaps some esoteric use beyond basic research, what sort of practical day-to-day use for the common man would there be?
Quite likely, it's too early to tell.
There is a story, perhaps apocryphal or misattributed, of then-prime-minister Benjamin Disraeli visiting Michael Faraday's lab, and asking Faraday "what use is electricity?" Faraday replied: "What use is a new-born baby?"
If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
Atomic structure of material is not quantum in nature. A rigid crystal very much not quantum.
Please consider reading comprehension as a goal for this year.
It sounds even more like a name of a classic Dr Who episode. ;)
Ezekiel 23:20
The one I know, also likely to be apocryphal, is where William Gladstone, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, asked the same question. Faraday's reputed reply was, "Why, sir, there is every probability that you will soon be able to tax it."
Unlimited energy? First let's see if any possible energy output outweights the energy being put into the system -- the article clearly states is a "driven" system, to keep it out of equilibrium, which means work = energy is being put INTO the system.
From what I understood, the magic is in the fact that the ground state of the crystal reoccurs at fixed time intervals, not that they are "magically moving".
And there the problem starts. It is fascinating to see how much deeply stupid people are around here that do not even understand how limited their understanding is. The current models for Quantum Mechanics are not truth. They are rough approximations and, if history is any indicator, quite a few things presented by the press as "truth" in there will turn out to have exceptions and inaccuracies. The other problem is that actual observation is now down to indirections of indirections and only mathematical models try to explain what is actually happening there. These models could easily be way off with the lack of quality in th experimental validation.
Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.