Scientists Explore Nuclear Clocks for Unprecedented Timekeeping Accuracy

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:31:00 +0200

Most clocks today, from wristwatches to GPS systems, rely on regular, repeating motions to measure time accurately. Atomic clocks improve on this by using electron transitions in atoms, offering extraordinary precision. Researchers are now exploring a more advanced concept: nuclear clocks, which would use transitions within the atomic nucleus itself. A nucleus is far smaller and more compact than the electrons in an atom, making it much less affected by environmental changes like temperature or electric fields. This could produce even more stable and accurate timekeeping. In recent research, scientists focused on thorium-229, whose nucleus has a unique low-energy excited state that can be manipulated with lasers. By detecting internal conversion electrons rather than faint light emissions, they developed a method to precisely measure the nuclear transition frequency. This approach broadens the range of materials suitable for nuclear clocks and could lead to simpler, more compact design