Scientists Create New Form of Matter

soren100 writes "Yahoo News has a story about scientists creating a sixth form of matter. They are calling their new state of matter a 'fermionic condensate.' Somehow they got potassium atoms to form pairs similar to the 'Cooper pairs' that make superconducting possible. Maybe any quantum physicists around can tell us more about this, but it certainly sounds pretty revolutionary. The scientists are predicting that this will lead to 'room temperature solid' superconductors, which in turn will enable us to have better electricity generators, more efficient electric motors, and (our favorite) cheaper maglev trains."

Quandry

[kinnell]

Maybe any quantum physicists around can tell us more about this

Maybe, but how will you tell the real quantum physicists from the myriad of armchair quantum physicists who think they know what it's all about.

Not to mention

[Photar]

Being able to do that cool thing where you take a metal toy and then put a magnet under the desk and make it move around, you know that thing, now you can do it through walls.

Re:Quandry

[Urkki]

• Maybe, but how will you tell the real quantum physicists from the myriad of armchair quantum physicists who think they know what it's all about.

Why, by making an observation of course! After that their quantum state collapses to just one state, either a real or an armchair quantum physicist.

There are some experiments underway to use this to encrypt articles about quantum physics, so that only intended recipients can decrypt the text, even.

Maglevs? More like...

[rtz]

more efficient electric motors, and (our favorite) cheaper maglev trains.

Maglevs are cool, but the real slashdotter wants to know how it will help build space elevators.

Re:Quandry

[R.Caley]

How will you tell the real quantum physicists from the myriad of armchair quantum physicists who think they know what it's all about.

The real quantum physicist will post a superposition of all possible comments with attached probabilities, so your browser will be able to randomly select which one to show you.

If you are one of twins, your sibling will always see a comment presenting the precise opposite point of view. Unfortunatly, there is no way to use this phenomenon to get zero-ping time internet access.

I want...

[Anonymous Coward]

Heck with maglev, gimme FTL !

Re:Quandry

[scimonkey]

Easy! Real answers will tunnel through the armchair barrier...

Re:Sixth form of matter?

[R.Caley]

Okay, what was the fifth?

Clinton took it.

Connective tissue

[Anonymous Coward]

Lets see... ...
They cooled potassium gas to a billionth of a degree C above absolute zero or minus 459 degrees F -- which is the point at which matter stops moving. ...

Step 1. Freeze until cold cold cold (like a regular superconductor)
Step 2. ???
Step 3. Have a room temperature superconductor
Step 4. PROFIT!!!!

Ok, seriously... Whats to say that you can't get any kind of matter to act like superconductors at a low enough temperature?

And while I'm at it:
Imagine a beowulf clust.....

Re:Maglev in U.S.

[WIAKywbfatw]

I believe there's a monorail in Springfield, Illinois. It's well documented [google.com]; I thought everyone knew about it?

Whew...

[CFBMoo1]

The scientists are predicting that this will lead to 'room temperature solid' superconductors,

Thats good, it was bad enough when I licked a street light with my tongue on a dare in the cold of winter once.

Re:Sixth form of matter?

[squaretorus]

Its the Bose-Einstein condensate - and may I point out what a SHIT name this is for a form of matter.

When you're naming a star, a hurricane, or a child you know you have a good chance of some more coming along later - so hell - John or Mary will do nicely.

But with forms of matter I think they missed a trick. Plasma is a pretty cool name after all. I would have thought a few minutes spent searching for the phone number for Douglas Adams and a quick "Hey - Doug - can I call you Doug - No? - Okay - Mr Adams - You were joking? - cool - very funny - ANyway - we have a new form of matter - and we can only think up really shit scientificy names for it - any chance of you coming up with some options we can present to the board? - None of your stupid numbers or shit - a proper kick ass name .... etc... etc.... etc...

Re:Maglev in U.S.

[WIAKywbfatw]

Shhh, this is Slashdot, 99.9 percent of the people couldn't tell you the difference but like to think they could. Please, don't shatter their illusions.

(Cue 20 flames from people who can tell the difference.)

Re:Sixth form of matter?

[orius_khan]

Actually they DID call up Douglas Adams and ask him for a name to give their new form of matter, but the only reply he would give is "I'm fucking dead!"

I think they picked the lesser of two evils when went with "Bose-Einstein condensate"...

The BIG issue now

[G3ckoG33k]

When will this matter?

Re:This is news?! :-)

[narkotix]

so do i add this before or after the cold fusion reactor on my vapourware list? :P

What about faster Rollercoaster launch systems

[stiggle]

Most of the modern coasters use linear motors to launch the trains, so better conductors and magnets would make the launch systems faster (and cheaper) :-)

Perhaps we can see someone building something to beat the Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point for being the tallest, fastest coaster (when its working).

I really am dylsexic

[Anonymous Coward]

You insensitive cold.

Re:Un-scientific questions

[Snosty]

So... quantum whatever... can I touch it? Without massive pain? What's it feel like?
--
In London? Need a Physics Tutor?

You're the damn physics tutor, you tell me.

question is...

[plams]

does it matter? or does it anti-matter?

Heisenberg says...

[nacturation]

Why, by making an observation of course! After that their quantum state collapses to just one state, either a real or an armchair quantum physicist.

The problem is that you'll either be able to read what they wrote, or determine how intelligent the post is -- but by knowing one, the other is forever lost. Quite the quantum quandry!

Brrrr

[CrabbMan]

Seeing as this form of matter only exists at billionth of a degree C above absolute zero, I can see this as being useful only for New York trains in the winter. . .

Re:Connective tissue

[caluml]

If you freeze your room to a billionth of a degree C, then you can truly claim to have a room temperature semiconductor.

Re:Maglev in U.S.

[Rico_za]

Whoa! Who said Springfield is in Illinois? Isn't the whole idea of Springfield that it is in every state? If there's proof it's in Illinois, please point the way.

Finally...

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm allowed to call watercooling-idiots... "IDIOTS!"

Re:Sixth form of matter?

[Dashing Leech]

The fifth? You don't remember? Pink hair, spoke with an accent, she ran off with that bald taxi driver... saved the world. Sheesh, some people.

That's the fifth element, you boron.

Re:Connective tissue

[Dashing Leech]

A billionth of a degree C? Then you could almost freeze water, but I don't think it'd superconduct. On the other hand, more fingers. If you freeze it to a billionth of a degree K, that might suffice.

6th? What about the fifth

[Kinlan]

So we have Earth, Water, Wind and Fire???? What is the fifth ;)

Re:Maglevs? More like...

[extra88]

Wired Tired Expired
space elevator maglev flying cars

Name Change!

[tarsi210]

This will not do! I demand that the scientists come up with a name for this stuff that is more fun. You just can't use this properly in sci-fi films. Observe:

Captain Shamerica: Cease and desist, foul scum!
Grokthor: Never! *rowr*
Captain Shamerica: Then I shall blast you with my fermionic condensate ray!

See? Poor Captain Shamerica now looks like a pussy because he's using some weirdo-thingy to whack the bad guys.

New name! New name! *forms picket line*

Re:Sixth form of matter?

[Fulcrum of Evil]

Okay, what was the fifth?

Mila Jovovich. Duh.

Re:show me

[jafuser]

the economics will never see a real useful maglev

"never" is a very long time. =)