One problem that plagues scientists when experimenting with quantum mechanics is that the actions and operations that take place cannot be directly observed, the only way to tell if an experiment is a success is to look at the results.
That’s changing. Insane scienticians at the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics have come up with a magnetic cantilever that reacts to rubidium when super-cooled to near absolute zero, changing its quantum state when rubidium gas is present.
The actual science is in the link, but in a nutshell it’s a cross of standard (or classic) research and quantum research, in that, if successful, an object that’s observable will enter a quantum state, something that might not even be possible. It’s a neat Thursday morning read with some heavier science for us real nerds if it’s needed. But what does this mean for you, the consumer? I means that practical quantum mechanics might be closer to reality than we though, giving users super-computer power in portable, mind-blowing computers, as well as fundamentally changing how the transistors that power every piece of electronics we own. So, ya know, it’s kind of a big deal.
New Experiment Probes Weird Zone Between Quantum and Classical [Wired]