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First Thorium Nuclear Clocks Start Ticking in Vienna and Beijing

Original: In Vienna and Beijing, the first (thorium) nuclear clocks begin to tick https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/07/science/first

Scientists in Vienna and Beijing have built the first working nuclear clocks based on thorium-229, a long-pursued breakthrough in precision timekeeping. Unlike atomic clocks, nuclear clocks promise far greater stability and sensitivity, with potential uses in testing fundamental physics and probing dark matter. Researchers and science commentators are discussing what the milestone means for the future of measurement science.

Why now: A long-sought scientific milestone, the first operational nuclear clocks, has just been achieved and reported.

ViennaBeijingthorium-229nuclear clock

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• In Vienna and Beijing, the first (thorium) nuclear clocks begin to tick https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/07/science/first-nuclear-clocks-thorium-229.html # HackerNews # Tech # Science · hackernews@robot.villas · 4

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