The first quantum grandfather clock

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Pendulum clocks were much more accurate than those that came before
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At the turn of the 17th century, timekeeping became a lot more accurate with the invention of mechanical clocks, like the grandfather or pendulum clock. Now, researchers at the Collège de France have designed an equivalent quantum clock that uses a single atom, tiny mirrors and light to operate. Their design could shed light on timekeeping in the quantum realm and even probe where gravity comes from. Read more

It has long been known that a person’s carbon footprint tends to increase with their income. But a surprising new study has found that among people with the highest income and education, those who care the most about the environment also do the most damage. The main reason is that high-income nature lovers fly frequently, one of the most emissions-intensive individual activities. But rather than using this finding as a critique of environmentalism, scientists suggest this finding shows that changing policy is more important than changing values when it comes to halting the climate crisis. Read more

We may finally know why gold doesn’t tarnish like other metals. Read more

Three missions slated to launch this year will begin to search for a suitable location for a permanent base on the lunar surface. Read more

An ongoing census of sea life in the South Atlantic has identified more than 1000 new creatures, including a new species of sea pen found on Mystery Ridge. See the image

Embryo models closely resemble early human embryos
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The very first days of pregnancy have long been an enigma. Scientists are unable to peer inside the uterus during pregnancy, meaning we know little about why so many fail. This is now beginning to change, thanks to embryo models created from stem cells, which are lifting the lid on one of the great mysteries of human biology. As the science evolves and researchers are able to sustain embryo models in the lab for longer, they are beginning to find themselves in ethically uncharted territory. They’re faced with a quandary: just how far should they go? Read more

In this video, features editor Jacklin Kwan explains the disastrous consequences for our privacy that may arise the day quantum computers break the encryption protecting the modern world. Watch now

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