Electron Transfer Time
This is a bit sciency to include here, but it still astounds me: they’ve actually measured the time it takes an electron to transfer from one atom to another. 320 attoseconds, or 3.2 x 10^-16 seconds. Or 0.32 femtoseconds. I’m surprised, because it’s faster than processes which take place on the nuclear scale, which are about one femtosecond.
This measurement depends on the rate of hole decay, or the “natural lifetime” of the hole, which is known to take 500 attoseconds. I don’t know how they measure that–at some point there has to be an absolute measurement here. But it’s still astonishing. The glories of science!
Keep Reading
Most Popular
Large language models can do jaw-dropping things. But nobody knows exactly why.
And that's a problem. Figuring it out is one of the biggest scientific puzzles of our time and a crucial step towards controlling more powerful future models.
How scientists traced a mysterious covid case back to six toilets
When wastewater surveillance turns into a hunt for a single infected individual, the ethics get tricky.
The problem with plug-in hybrids? Their drivers.
Plug-in hybrids are often sold as a transition to EVs, but new data from Europe shows we’re still underestimating the emissions they produce.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.