In a unique experiment, researchers have clocked how long it takes for an electron to be emitted from an atom. The result is .00000000000000002 seconds, or 20 billionths of a billionth of a second.

A clock based on just a single atom — the simplest clock yet — has now been devised, researchers say. This new device to measure time could help lead to a radically new way to define mass as well, ...

A quantum dot is usually charged by inserting electrons. But electrons can also be removed from a neutral dot. Unexpectedly, positively charged dots are different from highly charged negative ones, ...

Techniques for controlling ultra-cold atoms traveling in ring traps currently represent an important research area in physics. A new study gives a proof of principle, confirmed by numerical ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about physics, science, academia, and pop culture. These days, everybody learns in grade school that an atom looks a bit ...

A clock based on just a single atom — the simplest clock yet — has now been devised, researchers say. This new device to measure time could help lead to a radically new way to define mass as well, ...