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Scientists Create Visible Time Crystals with Exciting Applications

9/13/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Physicists at the University of Colorado Boulder developed a visible time crystal, detailed in a recent Nature Materials paper.
Time crystals are atomic structures that exhibit repeating motions, resembling "psychedelic tiger stripes."
The design incorporates liquid crystals from smartphone LCD screens, visible under a microscope and sometimes with the naked eye.
Researchers utilized molecular "kinks" to overcome previous limitations.
Potential applications include currency "time watermarks" and compact data centers.

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Story summary

Physicists at the University of Colorado Boulder developed a visible time crystal, detailed in a recent Nature Materials paper.
Time crystals are atomic structures that exhibit repeating motions, resembling "psychedelic tiger stripes."
The design incorporates liquid crystals from smartphone LCD screens, visible under a microscope and sometimes with the naked eye.
Researchers utilized molecular "kinks" to overcome previous limitations.
Potential applications include currency "time watermarks" and compact data centers.