An old jeweler’s trick could change nuclear timekeeping A centuries-old metal-plating trick may unlock ultra-precise nuclear clocks that work without GPS and could redefine how we measure time. Date: January 8, 2026 Source: University of California - Los Angeles Summary: A team of physicists has discovered a surprisingly simple way to build nuclear clocks using tiny amounts of rare thorium. By electroplating thorium onto steel, they achieved the same results as years of work with delicate crystals — but far more efficiently. These clocks could be vastly more precise than current atomic clocks and work where GPS fails, from deep space to underwater submarines. The advance could transform navigation, communications, and fundamental physics research.
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