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An ion trap can control atoms for quantum experimentsY. Colombe/NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY After decades of looking, researchers have seen a string of atoms go through a 1D phase change so elusive that it could only happen inside a quantum simulator. “One motivation [for our experiment] is really trying to understand fundamental physics. We’re trying to understand just the basic states that matter can be in,” says Alexander Schuckert at the University of Maryland. He and his colleagues used electromagnetic fields to arrange 23 ions of the element ytterbium into a line, forming a nearly one-dimensional chain. This device can be used for quantum computing, but in this case, the researchers used the chain as a simulator inste...

2024 is officially the hottest year on record. The ocean is heating faster than ever as glaciers lose ice and sea levels rise. And this past year, extreme weather and wildfires devastated communities and economies across the world.  As we start the new year, we can’t allow ourselves to feel discouraged about fighting climate change. While bigger actions by the government are needed to really make a difference, there are many individual actions that can help.  Here is some advice from climate experts on ways to stay involved in the fight against climate change.    Engage in Green Networking  Radhika Iyengar, an associate research scholar at Columbia Climate School’s Center for Sustainable Development, believes we need more grassroots initiatives. “Meet people old school–styl...