Physicists Stir a Supersolid For First Time, Proving Its Bizarre Dual Nature
Scientists have successfully stirred a supersolid, a strange type of matter that is both rigid and fluid, for the first time. Supersolids have the properties of both solids and superfluids - a fraction of atoms flow friction-free through a lattice of a rigid crystal structure. Stirring the supersolid resulted in tiny whirlpools called quantized vortices, an indication of superfluidity. The breakthrough will make it possible to simulate phenomena in the lab that normally occur under truly extreme conditions, like in the hearts of neutron stars.