Scientists in Vienna and Beijing report the first nuclear clocks to begin ticking, using thorium-229 nuclei. The teams measure how the nucleus alternately “squishes” and “unsquishes,” aiming to create a time standard that could surpass the accuracy of today’s atomic clocks.
Both projects are independently developed and use thorium-229 embedded in crystals, but early performance comparisons appear in recent papers. One outlet reports stability results indicating the Beijing clock is roughly six times more stable than the Vienna system, while other coverage emphasizes the shared technical breakthrough and potential applications. Researchers discuss possible uses such as satellite-based navigation and more precise synchronization for data transfer, as well as improved timing for systems that depend on highly consistent signals.
