ScientificBreakthrough

New clues about the origins of heavy elements such as gold and platinum have emerged from a reanalysis of a burst from a magnetar—an ultra-magnetized neutron star. Scientists now believe that giant flares, or “starquakes,” on these exotic stars could play a pivotal role in synthesizing and distributing the Universe’s heaviest metals.

Clocks around the world are now ticking more accurately than ever, thanks to the launch of a groundbreaking new atomic clock developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, Colorado. Named NIST-F4, this cesium fountain clock has been officially established as one of the most precise timekeepers globally, pushing the boundaries of human ability to measure time.