Scientists Just Created the Coldest Temperature Ever Recorded in the Lab

Researchers from four universities in Germany have created the coldest temperature ever recorded in a lab—38 trillionths of a degree warmer than absolute zero to be exact, according to their new work, recently published in the journal Physical Review Letters. The bone-chilling temperature only persisted for a few seconds at the University of Bremen's Center for Applied Space Technology and Microgravity, but the breakthrough could have longstanding ramifications for our understanding of quantum mechanics. That's because the closer we get to absolute zero—the lowest possible temperature that we could ever theoretically reach, as outlined by the laws of thermodynamics—the more peculiarly particles, and therefore substances, act. Liquid helium, for instance, becomes a "superfluid" at significantly low temperatures, meaning that it flows without any resistance from friction. Nitrogen freezes at -210 degrees Celsius. At cool enough temperatures, some particles even take on wave-like characteristics. [View in Browser]( [Popular Mechanics]( [SHOP]( [EXCLUSIVE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [Scientists Just Created the Coldest Temperature Ever Recorded in the Lab]( [Scientists Just Created the Coldest Temperature Ever Recorded in the Lab]( Researchers from four universities in Germany have created the coldest temperature ever recorded in a lab—38 trillionths of a degree warmer than absolute zero to be exact, according to their new work, recently published in the journal Physical Review Letters. The bone-chilling temperature only persisted for a few seconds at the University of Bremen's Center for Applied Space Technology and Microgravity, but the breakthrough could have longstanding ramifications for our understanding of quantum mechanics. That's because the closer we get to absolute zero—the lowest possible temperature that we could ever theoretically reach, as outlined by the laws of thermodynamics—the more peculiarly particles, and therefore substances, act. Liquid helium, for instance, becomes a "superfluid" at significantly low temperatures, meaning that it flows without any resistance from friction. Nitrogen freezes at -210 degrees Celsius. At cool enough temperatures, some particles even take on wave-like characteristics. [Read More]( [The 2021 Nobel Prize Winners Are Here—But Where Are the Women?]( [The 2021 Nobel Prize Winners Are Here—But Where Are the Women?]( Laureates have modeled our changing climate, studied pain stimuli, and synthesized better chemical building blocks. But none of those winners are women. [Read More]( [The Best Rooftop Cargo Carriers for Hauling All Your Gear]( [The Best Rooftop Cargo Carriers for Hauling All Your Gear]( Expand your storage capacity while keeping equipment safe and secure. [Read More]( [Alternate text] [Alternate text] [Gas Giants May Have Bullied Planet 9 to the Fringes of Our Solar System]( [Gas Giants May Have Bullied Planet 9 to the Fringes of Our Solar System]( Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune may have sent the Earth-sized planet barreling toward deep space. [Read More]( [Best Canon Cameras for Every Photographer]( Best Canon Cameras for Every Photographer]( Canon has been making top-tier cameras year after year, but how do you pick the right camera for you? [Read More]( [Alternate text] [The 8 Best Rowing Machines for At-Home Workouts]( [The 8 Best Rowing Machines for At-Home Workouts]( With its low-impact combination of strength and cardio, a rowing machine is a must-have for home workouts. These are the best magnetic, air, and water-resistance models on the market in a variety of budgets. [Read More]( [Alternate text] [Alternate text] [The 8 Best Rowing Machines for At-Home Workouts]( [The 8 Best Rowing Machines for At-Home Workouts]( With its low-impact combination of strength and cardio, a rowing machine is a must-have for home workouts. These are the best magnetic, air, and water-resistance models on the market in a variety of budgets. [Read More]( [Save Time Decorating Your Yard With These Top-Rated Christmas Net Lights]( [Save Time Decorating Your Yard With These Top-Rated Christmas Net Lights]( Never string single sets on bushes and hedges again. [Read More]( [Alternate text] [Get your copy of Good Housekeeping Amazing Science today!]( Follow Us [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Notice/Notice at Collection]( PopularMechanics.com ©2021 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019