this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2024
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[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 months ago (1 children)

The Cold Atom Lab science team made their measurements with a quantum tool called an atom interferometer, which can precisely measure gravity, magnetic fields, and other forces. Scientists and engineers on Earth use this tool to study the fundamental nature of gravity and advance technologies that aid aircraft and ship navigation.

[–] EleventhHour -2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Scientists and engineers on Earth use this tool…

As opposed to the scientists and engineers on Mars?

[–] Maalus 9 points 4 months ago (1 children)

The article is literally about using it in space.

[–] EleventhHour 5 points 4 months ago

aha, that's what i get for speed-reading this during my lunch break, lol

[–] Drunemeton 5 points 4 months ago

About the size of a minifridge, the Cold Atom Lab launched to the space station in 2018 with the goal of advancing quantum science by putting a long-term facility in the microgravity environment of low Earth orbit. The lab cools atoms to almost absolute zero, or minus 459 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 273 degrees Celsius). At this temperature, some atoms can form a Bose-Einstein condensate, a state of matter in which all atoms essentially share the same quantum identity. As a result, some of the atoms’ typically microscopic quantum properties become macroscopic, making them easier to study.

[–] RizzRustbolt 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I've seen cooler instruments.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago