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Record-breaking atomic clocks precise enough to measure spacetime distortions

Michael Irving November 28, 2018

In recent tests run by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), experimental atomic clocks have achieved record performance in three metrics, meaning these clocks could help measure the Earth’s gravity more precisely or detect elusive dark matter.

A ytterbium lattice atomic clock, which was used in the new study to make some of ...

Around The Home

"Mad Max-meets-Transformer" clock rolls onto executive desks

David Szondy August 30, 2018

Mixing equal parts tranquility, aggression, and whimsy, MB&F and L’Epée 1839 are releasing the Grant – a tracked buzzsaw-wielding timepiece that combines horology with a souped-up executive toy designed to relax its owner by slowing down life just a touch.

Physics

Overlooked atom ticks the boxes for better atomic clocks

Michael Irving May 10, 2018

At the heart of an atomic clock are, as the name suggests, atoms of a specific type. Now, physicists at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have found that lutetium atoms could make for more stable atomic clocks.

Lutetium atoms trapped in a vacuum chamber in an atomic clock

Around The Home

The Fifth Element puts an otherworldly spin on the desk weather station

David Szondy March 25, 2018

MB&F has come up with an updated of the desk weather station called The Fifth Element. Taking cues from classic UFO stories, The Fifth Element combines an clock, barometer, hygrometer and thermometer in an open-frame brass clockwork flying saucer piloted by a tiny metal alien named "Ross."

Before digital technology saturated modern life like milk in a bowl of corn flakes, weather stations ...

Electronics

Dancing arms give faceless clock the edge

Paul Ridden January 15, 2018

We've seen a number of frankly bizarre time-keepers over the years. Architect and hobby tinkerer Ekaggrat Singh Kalsi joins that strange clock party with the Edgytokei, where dancing mechanical arms show hand positions on a clock face ... except there's no clock face.

The simply captivating Edgytokei clock from Ekaggrat Singh Kalsi

Children

Mella alarm clock trains kids to stay in bed

Nick Lavars October 11, 2017

Most alarm clocks are designed to get people out of bed, but there are scenarios where you'd like one to keep them in. The Mella kids clock is designed to achieve by using a mix of lights and facial expressions to enlighten toddlers about the bliss of sleeping in.

Little Hippo is currently raising funds on Kickstarter to get Mella into commercial production

Around The Home

What’s got 8 legs, 2 hands and costs $36,000?

Michael Irving September 21, 2017

Inspired by traditional marine chronometers, Swiss design firm MB&F has teamed up with manufacturer L’Epée 1839 to create a marine-themed, high-end table clock called the Octopod, with the inner movements contained inside a bathysphere-like bubble and mounted atop a set of eight articulated legs.

Swiss design firm MB&F and manufacturer L’Epée 1839 have created a marine-themed, high-end table clock called ...

Around The Home

Snoozle alarm clock won't be silenced until you get out of bed

Nick Lavars June 30, 2017

A snooze button within arm's reach certainly doesn't make getting up in the morning any easier, so the folks behind Snoozle aim to get slow risers up and at 'em with an alarm clock that won't be silenced until you carry it across the room.

The Snoozle alarm clock is actually made up of two parts

Science

World's most stable atomic clock proves two clocks are better than one

Colin Jeffrey November 29, 2016

Scientists have set a new world record for atomic clock stability using a pair of ytterbium-based timepieces stable down to quintillionths of a second. The researchers believe that their new system may prove invaluable in determining the precision of fundamental universal constants.

NIST researchers have set a new world record for atomic clock stability using a pair of ...

Space

Spaceworthy optical clock promises centimeter-level GPS precision

David Szondy November 27, 2016

An optical clock built by a team led by Matthias Lezius of Menlo Systems not only has the potential to one day produce centimeter-level GPS location fixing, but is capable of operating in a zero-gravity environment.