An old jewelerrCOs trick could change nuclear timekeeping
A centuries-old metal-plating trick may unlock ultra-precise nuclear clocks that work without GPS and could redefine how we measure time.
Date:
January 8, 2026
Source:
University of California - Los Angeles
Summary:
A team of physicists has discovered a surprisingly simple way to build nuclear clocks using tiny amounts of rare thorium.
By electroplating thorium onto steel, they achieved the same results as years of work with delicate crystals rCo but far more efficiently.
These clocks could be vastly more precise than current atomic clocks and work where GPS fails, from deep space to underwater submarines.
The advance could transform navigation, communications, and fundamental physics research.
Link:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260107225542.htm
An old jewelerrCOs trick could change nuclear timekeeping
A centuries-old metal-plating trick may unlock ultra-precise nuclear clocks that work without GPS and could redefine how we measure time.
Date:
January 8, 2026
Source:
University of California - Los Angeles
Summary:
A team of physicists has discovered a surprisingly simple way to build nuclear clocks using tiny amounts of rare thorium.
By electroplating thorium onto steel, they achieved the same results as years of work with delicate crystals rCo but far more efficiently.
These clocks could be vastly more precise than current atomic clocks and work where GPS fails, from deep space to underwater submarines.
The advance could transform navigation, communications, and fundamental physics research.
Link:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260107225542.htm
On 10/01/2026 04:41, Jan Panteltje wrote:
An old jewelerAs trick could change nuclear timekeeping
A centuries-old metal-plating trick may unlock ultra-precise nuclear clocks that work without GPS and could redefine how we measure time.
Date:
January 8, 2026
Source:
University of California - Los Angeles
Summary:
A team of physicists has discovered a surprisingly simple way to build nuclear clocks using tiny amounts of rare thorium.
By electroplating thorium onto steel, they achieved the same results as years of work with delicate crystals u but far more efficiently.
These clocks could be vastly more precise than current atomic clocks and work where GPS fails, from deep space to underwater submarines.
The advance could transform navigation, communications, and fundamental physics research.
Link:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260107225542.htm
They could not have made this article more misleading if they had tried!
The alternative technique was growing Thorium doped fluorite crystals.
This is a much less breathless hype description of why Thorium 229 is
quite so magical in that by pure fluke the outermost neutron of the
nucleus is bound to it by about 10eV as opposed to the usual >10keV.
https://jila.colorado.edu/sites/default/files/group-files/The%20First%20Nuclear%20Clock%20Will%20Test%20if%20Fundamental%20Constants%20Change%20_%20Quanta%20Magazine.pdf
You have to wonder if exposing the electroplated thorium surface to a
trace of fluorine gas might improve it. Metal surfaces being conductors
with free electrons don't couple very well to electromagnetic radiation.
It is probably going to be more interesting to physicists wanting to
check whether the fundamental constants of nature truly are constant
than to timekeepers. It will always be an exotic technology.
On Sat, 10 Jan 2026 11:40:59 +0000, Martin Brown
<'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk> wrote:
On 10/01/2026 04:41, Jan Panteltje wrote:
An old jewelerrCOs trick could change nuclear timekeeping
A centuries-old metal-plating trick may unlock ultra-precise nuclear clocks that work without GPS and could redefine how we measure time.
Date:
January 8, 2026
Source:
University of California - Los Angeles
Summary:
A team of physicists has discovered a surprisingly simple way to build nuclear clocks using tiny amounts of rare thorium.
By electroplating thorium onto steel, they achieved the same results as years of work with delicate crystals rCo but far more efficiently.
These clocks could be vastly more precise than current atomic clocks and work where GPS fails, from deep space to underwater submarines.
The advance could transform navigation, communications, and fundamental physics research.
Link:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260107225542.htm
They could not have made this article more misleading if they had tried!
The alternative technique was growing Thorium doped fluorite crystals.
This is a much less breathless hype description of why Thorium 229 is
quite so magical in that by pure fluke the outermost neutron of the
nucleus is bound to it by about 10eV as opposed to the usual >10keV.
https://jila.colorado.edu/sites/default/files/group-files/The%20First%20Nuclear%20Clock%20Will%20Test%20if%20Fundamental%20Constants%20Change%20_%20Quanta%20Magazine.pdf
You have to wonder if exposing the electroplated thorium surface to a
trace of fluorine gas might improve it. Metal surfaces being conductors
with free electrons don't couple very well to electromagnetic radiation.
It is probably going to be more interesting to physicists wanting to
check whether the fundamental constants of nature truly are constant
than to timekeepers. It will always be an exotic technology.
I guess you could seal the entire thing in a glass tube, like a
Krytron.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/w2gv639b8fjw51et1g5a9/Kry_Danger.jpg?rlkey=f2oy9j25z1p8ol1w9qmnlx4x9&raw=1
That would be a 0T1, I guess.
Once we fine-tune the laser to the thorium line, how would we divide
the light down to usable electronic-type frequencies?
Rubidium clocks rely on some remarkable tricks and luck to do that.
These guys have been working on this for 18 years. I like electronic
design where you get a new thing to play with every few months.
On 11/01/2026 1:10 am, john larkin wrote:
On Sat, 10 Jan 2026 11:40:59 +0000, Martin Brown
<'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk> wrote:
On 10/01/2026 04:41, Jan Panteltje wrote:
An old jewelerAs trick could change nuclear timekeeping
A centuries-old metal-plating trick may unlock ultra-precise nuclear clocks that work without GPS and could redefine how we measure time.
Date:
January 8, 2026
Source:
University of California - Los Angeles
Summary:
A team of physicists has discovered a surprisingly simple way to build nuclear clocks using tiny amounts of rare thorium.
By electroplating thorium onto steel, they achieved the same results as years of work with delicate crystals u but far more efficiently.
These clocks could be vastly more precise than current atomic clocks and work where GPS fails, from deep space to underwater submarines.
The advance could transform navigation, communications, and fundamental physics research.
Link:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260107225542.htm
They could not have made this article more misleading if they had tried! >>> The alternative technique was growing Thorium doped fluorite crystals.
This is a much less breathless hype description of why Thorium 229 is
quite so magical in that by pure fluke the outermost neutron of the
nucleus is bound to it by about 10eV as opposed to the usual >10keV.
https://jila.colorado.edu/sites/default/files/group-files/The%20First%20Nuclear%20Clock%20Will%20Test%20if%20Fundamental%20Constants%20Change%20_%20Quanta%20Magazine.pdf
You have to wonder if exposing the electroplated thorium surface to a
trace of fluorine gas might improve it. Metal surfaces being conductors
with free electrons don't couple very well to electromagnetic radiation. >>>
It is probably going to be more interesting to physicists wanting to
check whether the fundamental constants of nature truly are constant
than to timekeepers. It will always be an exotic technology.
I guess you could seal the entire thing in a glass tube, like a
Krytron.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/w2gv639b8fjw51et1g5a9/Kry_Danger.jpg?rlkey=f2oy9j25z1p8ol1w9qmnlx4x9&raw=1
That would be a 0T1, I guess.
Once we fine-tune the laser to the thorium line, how would we divide
the light down to usable electronic-type frequencies?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_comb
Rubidium clocks rely on some remarkable tricks and luck to do that.
These guys have been working on this for 18 years. I like electronic
design where you get a new thing to play with every few months.
There's a lot of history there that you don't have a clue about, as
there is in regular electronics.
On Sun, 11 Jan 2026 02:04:40 +1100, Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org>
wrote:
On 11/01/2026 1:10 am, john larkin wrote:
On Sat, 10 Jan 2026 11:40:59 +0000, Martin Brown
<'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk> wrote:
On 10/01/2026 04:41, Jan Panteltje wrote:
An old jewelerrCOs trick could change nuclear timekeeping
A centuries-old metal-plating trick may unlock ultra-precise nuclear clocks that work without GPS and could redefine how we measure time.
Date:
January 8, 2026
Source:
University of California - Los Angeles
Summary:
A team of physicists has discovered a surprisingly simple way to build nuclear clocks using tiny amounts of rare thorium.
By electroplating thorium onto steel, they achieved the same results as years of work with delicate crystals rCo but far more efficiently.
These clocks could be vastly more precise than current atomic clocks and work where GPS fails, from deep space to underwater submarines.
The advance could transform navigation, communications, and fundamental physics research.
Link:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260107225542.htm
They could not have made this article more misleading if they had tried! >>>> The alternative technique was growing Thorium doped fluorite crystals. >>>>
This is a much less breathless hype description of why Thorium 229 is
quite so magical in that by pure fluke the outermost neutron of the
nucleus is bound to it by about 10eV as opposed to the usual >10keV.
https://jila.colorado.edu/sites/default/files/group-files/The%20First%20Nuclear%20Clock%20Will%20Test%20if%20Fundamental%20Constants%20Change%20_%20Quanta%20Magazine.pdf
You have to wonder if exposing the electroplated thorium surface to a
trace of fluorine gas might improve it. Metal surfaces being conductors >>>> with free electrons don't couple very well to electromagnetic radiation. >>>>
It is probably going to be more interesting to physicists wanting to
check whether the fundamental constants of nature truly are constant
than to timekeepers. It will always be an exotic technology.
I guess you could seal the entire thing in a glass tube, like a
Krytron.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/w2gv639b8fjw51et1g5a9/Kry_Danger.jpg?rlkey=f2oy9j25z1p8ol1w9qmnlx4x9&raw=1
That would be a 0T1, I guess.
Once we fine-tune the laser to the thorium line, how would we divide
the light down to usable electronic-type frequencies?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_comb
Rubidium clocks rely on some remarkable tricks and luck to do that.
These guys have been working on this for 18 years. I like electronic
design where you get a new thing to play with every few months.
There's a lot of history there that you don't have a clue about, as
there is in regular electronics.
Being you must be its own punishment.
On 13/01/2026 7:35 am, john larkin wrote:
On Sun, 11 Jan 2026 02:04:40 +1100, Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org>
wrote:
On 11/01/2026 1:10 am, john larkin wrote:
On Sat, 10 Jan 2026 11:40:59 +0000, Martin Brown
<'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk> wrote:
On 10/01/2026 04:41, Jan Panteltje wrote:
An old jewelerAs trick could change nuclear timekeeping
A centuries-old metal-plating trick may unlock ultra-precise nuclear clocks that work without GPS and could redefine how we measure time.
Date:
January 8, 2026
Source:
University of California - Los Angeles
Summary:
A team of physicists has discovered a surprisingly simple way to build nuclear clocks using tiny amounts of rare thorium.
By electroplating thorium onto steel, they achieved the same results as years of work with delicate crystals u but far more efficiently.
These clocks could be vastly more precise than current atomic clocks and work where GPS fails, from deep space to underwater submarines.
The advance could transform navigation, communications, and fundamental physics research.
Link:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260107225542.htm
They could not have made this article more misleading if they had tried! >>>>> The alternative technique was growing Thorium doped fluorite crystals. >>>>>
This is a much less breathless hype description of why Thorium 229 is >>>>> quite so magical in that by pure fluke the outermost neutron of the
nucleus is bound to it by about 10eV as opposed to the usual >10keV. >>>>>
https://jila.colorado.edu/sites/default/files/group-files/The%20First%20Nuclear%20Clock%20Will%20Test%20if%20Fundamental%20Constants%20Change%20_%20Quanta%20Magazine.pdf
You have to wonder if exposing the electroplated thorium surface to a >>>>> trace of fluorine gas might improve it. Metal surfaces being conductors >>>>> with free electrons don't couple very well to electromagnetic radiation. >>>>>
It is probably going to be more interesting to physicists wanting to >>>>> check whether the fundamental constants of nature truly are constant >>>>> than to timekeepers. It will always be an exotic technology.
I guess you could seal the entire thing in a glass tube, like a
Krytron.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/w2gv639b8fjw51et1g5a9/Kry_Danger.jpg?rlkey=f2oy9j25z1p8ol1w9qmnlx4x9&raw=1
That would be a 0T1, I guess.
Once we fine-tune the laser to the thorium line, how would we divide
the light down to usable electronic-type frequencies?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_comb
Rubidium clocks rely on some remarkable tricks and luck to do that.
These guys have been working on this for 18 years. I like electronic
design where you get a new thing to play with every few months.
There's a lot of history there that you don't have a clue about, as
there is in regular electronics.
Being you must be its own punishment.
I seem to be as insensitive to my defects as you are to yours.
On Tue, 13 Jan 2026 23:45:05 +1100, Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org>
wrote:
On 13/01/2026 7:35 am, john larkin wrote:
On Sun, 11 Jan 2026 02:04:40 +1100, Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org>
wrote:
On 11/01/2026 1:10 am, john larkin wrote:
On Sat, 10 Jan 2026 11:40:59 +0000, Martin Brown
<'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk> wrote:
On 10/01/2026 04:41, Jan Panteltje wrote:
An old jewelerrCOs trick could change nuclear timekeepingThey could not have made this article more misleading if they had tried! >>>>>> The alternative technique was growing Thorium doped fluorite crystals. >>>>>>
A centuries-old metal-plating trick may unlock ultra-precise nuclear clocks that work without GPS and could redefine how we measure time.
Date:
January 8, 2026
Source:
University of California - Los Angeles
Summary:
A team of physicists has discovered a surprisingly simple way to build nuclear clocks using tiny amounts of rare thorium.
By electroplating thorium onto steel, they achieved the same results as years of work with delicate crystals rCo but far more efficiently.
These clocks could be vastly more precise than current atomic clocks and work where GPS fails, from deep space to underwater submarines.
The advance could transform navigation, communications, and fundamental physics research.
Link:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260107225542.htm >>>>>>
This is a much less breathless hype description of why Thorium 229 is >>>>>> quite so magical in that by pure fluke the outermost neutron of the >>>>>> nucleus is bound to it by about 10eV as opposed to the usual >10keV. >>>>>>
https://jila.colorado.edu/sites/default/files/group-files/The%20First%20Nuclear%20Clock%20Will%20Test%20if%20Fundamental%20Constants%20Change%20_%20Quanta%20Magazine.pdf
You have to wonder if exposing the electroplated thorium surface to a >>>>>> trace of fluorine gas might improve it. Metal surfaces being conductors >>>>>> with free electrons don't couple very well to electromagnetic radiation. >>>>>>
It is probably going to be more interesting to physicists wanting to >>>>>> check whether the fundamental constants of nature truly are constant >>>>>> than to timekeepers. It will always be an exotic technology.
I guess you could seal the entire thing in a glass tube, like a
Krytron.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/w2gv639b8fjw51et1g5a9/Kry_Danger.jpg?rlkey=f2oy9j25z1p8ol1w9qmnlx4x9&raw=1
That would be a 0T1, I guess.
Once we fine-tune the laser to the thorium line, how would we divide >>>>> the light down to usable electronic-type frequencies?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_comb
Rubidium clocks rely on some remarkable tricks and luck to do that.
These guys have been working on this for 18 years. I like electronic >>>>> design where you get a new thing to play with every few months.
There's a lot of history there that you don't have a clue about, as
there is in regular electronics.
Being you must be its own punishment.
I seem to be as insensitive to my defects as you are to yours.
Long-term, I find both coding and PCB layout to be tedious. But a
really challenging PCB can be fun once in a while, especially when it entangles density, exotic components, amps per nanosecond, high
voltages, and thermals.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wb6vqi9h6694hi31ipip0/B250_bad.jpg?rlkey=q7dykzjlo2z04h9bonejen7de&raw=1
Some parts are tall and have to go on top, but density forces most
parts onto the bottom. Then vias start to matter.
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