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Researchers Develop Thorium-229 Nuclear Clocks for Enhanced Precision

4/15/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Researchers are pursuing nuclear clocks based on the thorium-229 nucleus to surpass current atomic clocks in stability.
The approach uses the nucleus rather than electrons to measure energy transitions, potentially improving precision.
Scientists created a thin layer of thorium dioxide and used lasers to probe nuclear transitions.
If successful, nuclear clocks could enhance timing-dependent technologies and enable tests of fundamental physics.

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Story summary

Researchers are pursuing nuclear clocks based on the thorium-229 nucleus to surpass current atomic clocks in stability.
The approach uses the nucleus rather than electrons to measure energy transitions, potentially improving precision.
Scientists created a thin layer of thorium dioxide and used lasers to probe nuclear transitions.
If successful, nuclear clocks could enhance timing-dependent technologies and enable tests of fundamental physics.