Scientists unveil first nuclear clocks that could outpace atomic timekeepers

Physicists from Vienna University of Technology and Tsinghua University have created the first working nuclear clocks by illuminating thorium-229 crystals with ultra-precise lasers. Published in Nature, the studies report timing accuracy that would drift by just one second in 30 million years, a performance that could eventually eclipse the best atomic clocks. The breakthrough follows recent laser experiments that finally induced the required nuclear transition.

Researchers envision portable, chip-scale devices that could refine navigation systems, improve geological surveys, and test theories such as dark-matter interactions and relativistic time dilation. Early tests have already demonstrated sensitivity to subtle gravitational variations. Ongoing work will focus on enhancing stability and scaling the clocks for broader use.