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Tag: Lifespan

  • Ion Clock Achieves Unmatched Precision, Surpassing the Lifespan of the Universe

    Ion Clock Achieves Unmatched Precision, Surpassing the Lifespan of the Universe

    The new ion trap at the heart of the clock
    R Jacobson/NIST

    If you’re the kind of person who needs your watch to be perfectly in sync down to the second, you’ll be thrilled to know that scientists have developed an atomic clock with record-breaking precision—accurate to within 5.5 x 10⁻¹⁹, meaning it would gain or lose just one second over a span of 57.6 billion years.

    Two Decades of Research Behind a Breakthrough

    This revolutionary timepiece was created by researchers at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) after two decades of work. Not only is it the most precise clock ever built, but it also surpasses the previous accuracy benchmark by 41% and offers 2.6 times greater stability than earlier models.

    To put that into perspective, this clock could maintain time within a second for several times longer than the universe has existed.

    How Ion Clocks Differ from Traditional Atomic Clocks

    Unlike conventional atomic clocks, which rely on the oscillations of a single cesium atom, this device is a specific type of atomic clock known as an ion clock. It leverages the quantum properties of two electrically charged atoms, or ions, to achieve greater accuracy and reliability.

    NIST clock with ion trap and insert showing aluminum/magnesium ion pair
    NIST

    Specifically, the system uses an aluminum ion coupled with a magnesium ion, forming what’s called a quantum logic clock. The aluminum ion ticks with a highly stable, high-frequency signal—but it can’t be read directly using laser light. That’s where the magnesium ion comes in: the two ions are confined together in an ion trap and interact via electrostatic forces. This setup allows the magnesium ion to act as a translator, relaying timing information from the aluminum ion. It also assists in cooling the aluminum ion by transferring energy during laser manipulation.

    The NIST team and the ion clock
    R Jacobson/NIST

    Maintaining this delicate system requires extremely low temperatures—just above absolute zero (around -273.15 °C or -459.67 °F). The team also introduced innovations such as thicker diamond wafers, a new gold coating for the electrodes, and a high-vacuum chamber to prevent hydrogen atoms from interfering. The laser system, essential for measuring time, had to be made ultra-stable using optical frequency combs—a technique involving interlocked lasers that produce highly precise frequencies.

    In short, creating this clock was an intricate and demanding process.

    More Than Just Precision: Real-World Applications

    But its purpose extends well beyond breaking records. High-precision clocks are fundamental to modern life, enabling everything from GPS and telecommunications to the internet. The NIST team envisions broader scientific impacts, such as redefining the second based on optical frequencies, testing whether fundamental physical constants remain unchanged over time, mapping Earth’s gravitational variations through relativistic effects, enhancing quantum computing technologies, and enabling more compact and robust navigation systems.

    It’s incredibly rewarding to work on the world’s most accurate clock,” said NIST physicist Mason Marshall. “At NIST, we have the opportunity to pursue long-term precision measurement projects that deepen our understanding of physics and the universe.

    Read the original article on: New Atlas

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  • Advancing OLEDs: New Spectroscopy Boosts Lifespan

    Advancing OLEDs: New Spectroscopy Boosts Lifespan

    High-resolution, full-color displays—like those in foldable smartphones and ultrathin TVs—depend on organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). OLEDs are gaining popularity due to their flexibility, self-illumination, light weight, slim design, high contrast, and low power consumption.
    Credit: Scitech Daily

    High-resolution, full-color displays—like those in foldable smartphones and ultrathin TVs—depend on organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). OLEDs are gaining popularity due to their flexibility, self-illumination, light weight, slim design, high contrast, and low power consumption.

    An OLED consists of several ultrathin organic layers placed between two electrodes, each with a distinct function. When voltage is applied, charges build up at the interfaces between layers, and these charges recombine, emitting light in the process.. While the multilayer structure allows precise control of charge movement and light production, it also causes gradual degradation of the organic materials, reducing lifespan and efficiency.

    Understanding the behavior of electronic structures at OLED interfaces during operation remains a major challenge. Professor Takayuki Miyamae, Mr. Tatsuya Kaburagi, and Dr. Kazunori Morimoto from Chiba University used sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy to study the vibrational and electronic properties at OLED interfaces, providing key insights into their real-time behavior.

    As voltage is applied, charges recombine at the organic interfaces, producing light and altering the SFG signal. This change helps researchers observe how charges build up and how the electronic structure evolves under various operating conditions. The team published their innovative, nondestructive approach to studying charge dynamics in OLEDs online in the Journal of Materials Chemistry C on March 10, 2025.

    Analyzing Charge Dynamics in Multilayer OLEDs Using ESFG Spectroscopy

    In this research, they analyzed three distinct multilayer OLEDs, each featuring different types and combinations of organic layers. The team used electronic sum-frequency generation (ESFG) spectroscopy to track changes in spectral features related to charge activity and electronic structure at OLED interfaces. Prof. Miyamae explains, “We observed how variations in electric field strength affect internal charge movement and light emission, marking the first clear demonstration of these field differences on device performance.”

    The researchers identified ESFG spectral bands for each organic layer by comparing the absorption spectra and structural configurations across the three OLED devices. When they applied voltage, they observed changes in the intensity of the spectral signals, which linked to variations in the internal electric field and charge dynamics within the OLEDs.

    Specifically, applying voltage caused an increase in signal intensity at the absorption band of the hole transport layer (which carries positive charges), while the signal intensity at the light-emitting layer’s absorption band decreased. These changes indicate that charge movement varies across different organic layers, resulting in shifts in the observed spectra.

    Impact of BAlq on Light Emission and Efficiency in OLEDs

    The team also used square-wave pulse voltages on the devices to investigate how the internal electric fields changed over time. Their experiments revealed that incorporating BAlq—a material commonly used for electron transport in OLEDs—alters the location of light emission within the device. This change influences not only the color and pattern of the emitted light but also the overall efficiency of converting electrical energy into light.

    Professor Miyamae commented on the significance of the study, stating that the ESFG technique offers a groundbreaking, highly efficient, and non-invasive spectroscopic method for analyzing how injected charges generate electric fields in solid-state thin-film devices.

    This technique helps design OLEDs with longer lifespans, better energy efficiency, and lower costs, speeding up the integration of ultrathin organic devices. Prof. Miyamae adds, “It can also streamline the materials development process, reducing reliance on trial-and-error and lengthy degradation testing.”

    Read the original article on: Scitech Daily

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  • Scientists Say Eating Less Can Extend Lifespan, But There’s a Hidden Drawback

    Scientists Say Eating Less Can Extend Lifespan, But There’s a Hidden Drawback

    Reducing calorie intake and regularly delaying meals could be an effective approach to extending lifespan, but there may be trade-offs. A large U.S. study involving nearly 1,000 mice indicates that while food restriction leads to metabolic changes and lower body mass, these effects could pose health risks for certain individuals.
    Credit: Pixabay

    Reducing calorie intake and regularly delaying meals could be an effective approach to extending lifespan, but there may be trade-offs. A large U.S. study involving nearly 1,000 mice indicates that while food restriction leads to metabolic changes and lower body mass, these effects could pose health risks for certain individuals.

    Numerous studies have consistently shown that reducing calorie intake extends the lifespan of various animals, including monkeys, fruit flies, mice, and nematodes. However, due to ethical and logistical challenges in human research, it’s unclear if the same applies to humans.

    Observational studies on less extreme calorie restrictions, like intermittent fasting, suggest dietary limitations may offer benefits that reduce the risk of premature death. Health studies also indicate potential benefits like reduced weight, body fat, and lower cardiometabolic risks, which could contribute to longer lifespans. However, small sample sizes and short study durations make it difficult to directly link these factors to lifespan extension.

    Study Reveals Impact of Calorie Restriction and Intermittent Fasting on Lifespan of Mice

    In a recent study, researchers evaluated the effects of varying levels of calorie restriction and intermittent fasting on 960 genetically diverse female mice. The results confirmed earlier findings that moderate hunger leads to slightly longer lives. Mice with the most significant calorie reduction lost nearly a quarter of their weight by 18 months, compared to those on a regular diet, who gained over a quarter of their body weight. Notably, the heavily-restricted mice lived about 9 months longer on average, a 35% increase in lifespan.

    Lifespans of mice on a typical diet (AL); 1 day fasting; 2 day fasting; 20 percent calorie restriction; 40 percent calorie restriction (Francesco, et al., Nature, 2024).

    Variability in Lifespan Among Calorie-Restricted Mice

    The averages don’t capture the full variation within each calorie-restricted group. While some mice on strict diets lived significantly longer than their peers, many died at different ages. It seemed as though certain negative factors outweighed the potential benefits of a reduced-calorie diet for some individuals.

    In fact, the mice that retained the most weight within the calorie-restricted groups were the ones that lived longer, indicating that metabolic regulation likely isn’t the reason for their increased lifespan. Genetics, according to the study, played a much larger role in determining longevity. Mice that held onto weight during stressful situations and those with more white blood cells and less variation in red blood cell size were more likely to live longer.

    In simple terms, resilient and well-equipped mice had a better chance of surviving life’s challenges and living longer. The exact reason why fasting or calorie reduction helped some mice extend their lifespan remains uncertain, but it appears to involve more than just weight loss or metabolism.

    While there are clear differences between mice and humans, this study invites us to reconsider how we view the relationship between diet, health, and longevity. That said, dietary restrictions still have a role in maintaining a healthy metabolism. Even if genes ultimately determine our lifespan, staying healthy is likely just as important as living longer, if not more so.

    Read the original article on: Science Alert

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  • New Time Crystal’s Lifespan Extends by 10 million Times

    New Time Crystal’s Lifespan Extends by 10 million Times

    Time crystals, an enigmatic form of matter boasting seemingly impossible attributes, have been successfully synthesized. German researchers have achieved a significant advancement, producing one that endures 10 million times longer than those in previous experiments.
    Scientists have created time crystals that last millions of times longer than previous versions
    Depositphotos

    Time crystals, an enigmatic form of matter boasting seemingly impossible attributes, have been successfully synthesized. German researchers have achieved a significant advancement, producing one that endures 10 million times longer than those in previous experiments.

    To infuse an ordinary item with a science fiction aura, we could refer to commonplace crystals as “space crystals.” These objects, whether found in jewelry or in a salt shaker, owe their form to atoms arranging themselves in a spatially repeating pattern.

    To infuse an ordinary item with a science fiction aura, we could refer to commonplace crystals as “space crystals.” These objects, whether found in jewelry or in a salt shaker, owe their form to atoms arranging themselves in a spatially repeating pattern.

    Temporal Crystals

    However, considering that space and time are often conceptualized as interconnected components of the same “ ,” the question arises: could there exist crystals with patterns repeating in time? This idea was proposed by Frank Wilczek, a Nobel Prize laureate and physicist at MIT, in 2012.

    Understanding how such a concept could function presents challenges, but a common analogy is to envision a bowl of Jell-O and contemplate its response to being tapped with a spoon. Ordinarily, one would anticipate the Jell-O to wobble for a brief duration before settling. However, if this Jell-O were akin to a time crystal, it might exhibit a delayed wobble, cease momentarily, then wobble again, repeating this cycle indefinitely without requiring further stimulation from additional taps.

    Unraveling the Mystery of Time Crystals

    While the notion of time crystals may initially evoke comparisons to perpetual motion machines, they do not violate any laws of thermodynamics, and the overall entropy within the system remains constant. For some years, scientists debated the feasibility of their existence until a breakthrough occurred in 2017 when a research team successfully synthesized time crystals in laboratory conditions. Subsequent investigations uncovered these structures in children’s crystal-growing kits, quantum computer processors, and even observed their interactions with each other.

    However, these instances only showcased certain aspects of time crystal behavior, rather than fully capturing their essence. Analogous to tapping the Jell-O once per second and witnessing it wobble every two seconds, they exhibited some out-of-sync behavior. A genuine time crystal would spontaneously initiate its oscillations and continue them indefinitely in a periodic manner. Such a phenomenon was first demonstrated in 2022, albeit lasting only a few milliseconds.

    This flame-like pattern is actually a chart illustrating the experimental measurements of the time crystal’s oscillations, showing a clear pattern
    Dortmund University

    Pioneering Time Crystal Development

    Researchers at Dortmund University in Germany have developed a time crystal with a significantly prolonged lifespan, lasting 10 million times longer than previous iterations. Constructed from indium gallium arsenide, the crystal undergoes continuous illumination until its nuclear spin polarizes. Over time, the nucleus spontaneously initiates oscillations in a predictable pattern, resembling the behavior of a time crystal. In their experiments, the scientists observed this phenomenon persisting for 40 minutes, with potential for even longer durations.

    The team notes that altering experimental conditions can modify the crystal’s cycle timeframe and induce it to “melt,” losing its pattern and exhibiting chaotic behavior. This capability could usher in a new frontier of exploration in the field.

    Read the original article on: New atlas

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