The Quanta Podcast Audio Edition: Heat Destroys All Order. Except for in This One Special Case.
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Jun 5, 2025 Discover the groundbreaking concept of heat-resistant magnetism that defies the usual destructive properties of heat. Scientists unveil a theoretical substance capable of retaining magnetic order at extreme temperatures. This unexpected resilience could reshape our understanding of cosmology and open doors to advanced quantum technologies. The podcast explores the collaborative journey behind this revolutionary idea, igniting excitement for future applications in superconductivity and beyond.
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Heatproof Magnetic Order Discovered
- Heat typically destroys order by breaking down structures and patterns.
- However, physicists found a theoretical substance where magnetic order withstands any heat level.
Skepticism Sparked Breakthrough
- The discovery started from a skeptical question during a 2019 Hebrew University lecture.
- Physicists Komargotsky and Rabinovici began collaborating to explore if order really breaks down at all temperatures.
Quantum Field Maintains Order
- Interacting grids of atoms with different magnetic freedoms form a quantum field.
- This idealized quantum field can maintain magnetic order even at infinite temperatures.