Nuclear Clocks Get Smarter | Science News

Scientists are revolutionizing timekeeping by building nuclear clocks that could be ten times more precise than atomic clocks—by targeting the nucleus of thorium-229 with lasers. After years of trial, researchers have cracked the code: embedding thorium into calcium fluoride crystals, but only one crystal spot creates a perfectly uniform electric field for flawless timing. Teams are now racing to shrink these clocks into chip-sized devices, with prototypes already in development—and one group even patented the tech. The ultimate goal? Tiny, ultra-accurate backup clocks for data centers and critical infrastructure, ready to keep time when everything else fails. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/13f04a03241aac8f