BriefTea
Every story in sixty words
Get the free app no ads · no paywallExplained in plain English
How accurate are atomic clocks?
Current atomic clocks are incredibly precise, losing or gaining less than one second over millions of years. This accuracy is crucial for modern technologies like GPS and global communication networks. The new nuclear clocks, by tracking changes within the atom's nucleus rather than electrons, aim to surpass this already astonishing level of precision.
Stories that explain this
Scientists in Vienna and Beijing create world's first nuclear clocksRelated explainers
When were atomic clocks invented? What are nuclear clocks for? Who sets the UK's time? How accurate are OS maps? How do 'aging clocks' work? What is your body clock? Why do clocks change? When do clocks change in the UK?The full catalogue
Browse every card filed under A →We would like to count visits and see which links bring readers here. That means storing a random ID in your browser. No cookies, no ads, no profile. How it works.