For the first time, scientists have observed a collection of particles, also known as a quasiparticle, that's massless when moving one direction but has mass in the other direction. The quasiparticle, called a semi-Dirac fermion, was first theorized 16 years ago, but was only recently spotted inside a crystal of semi-metal material called ZrSiS. The observation of the quasiparticle opens the door to future advances in a range of emerging technologies from batteries to sensors, according to researchers at Penn State.
…a material that is nigh weighless when moving away from gravity but gains mass again when moving towards it.
My brain hung a bit in this statement. I suppose I incorrectly interpreted “nigh weightless” as “losing weight”, which is what everything does as it leaves a gravity well.
It’s 4am here and I’m just browsing on my way to the airport, half asleep. So, please feel free to ignore this whole thing.
My brain hung a bit in this statement. I suppose I incorrectly interpreted “nigh weightless” as “losing weight”, which is what everything does as it leaves a gravity well.
It’s 4am here and I’m just browsing on my way to the airport, half asleep. So, please feel free to ignore this whole thing.