Sometimes, even the simplest things can set off a quantum phenomenon.

A team of New York University researchers announced in early February 2026 that they had created “levitating” time crystals, ...

Physicists at NYU have discovered a new type of time crystal—an exotic state of matter whose particles rhythmically “tick” while levitating on sound waves.

“Our system is remarkable because it’s incredibly simple,” said paper author and physicist David Grier of New York University ...

Time crystals, a collection of particles that "tick"—or move back and forth in repeating cycles—were first theorized and then discovered about a decade ago. While scientists have yet to create ...

According to the team, this discovery not only advances understanding of time crystals but could also help understand natural processes like circadian rhythms.

Keeping perfect time is far trickier than it sounds. The world’s best clocks that ...