'Light becomes matter': Scientists forge supersolid that bends reality for first time ever
Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Credit: IQOQI Innsbruck/Harald Ritsch
Light Solidified
For the first time ever, scientists have turned light into a supersolid — a bizarre state of matter that acts both like a solid and a liquid (Science, March 5).
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Quantum Magic
Supersolids are quantum wonders that form orderly crystals yet flow without friction, defying everything we know about normal matter.
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Frozen Light
Creating a supersolid requires temperatures near absolute zero, where particles stop jiggling and strange quantum behaviors take over.
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Viscosity Vanished
Supersolids flow without resistance, just like superfluids. Imagine a material that moves endlessly without slowing down—pure quantum flow.
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Polariton Power
Scientists achieved this feat using polaritons — particles made by coupling light and matter, combining the best of both worlds to create a solid-light hybrid.
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Quantum Playground
Supersolids let researchers study pure quantum effects without heat interference, offering a window into the building blocks of the universe.
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Beyond Theory
Though supersolids of atoms have been made before, this is the first time light itself has been used — pushing the boundaries of condensed matter physics.
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Future Potential
Supersolids could unlock quantum computing, superconductors, and frictionless tech—revolutionizing how we build future technologies.
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New Frontier
Turning light into a solid is a giant leap into unknown realms of physics—offering new paths to understand matter, energy, and the quantum world.
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