#176....on fermionic condensate, and insurance rates.

so john scalzi alerted us to this news item in a recent posting...scientists create new form of matter-

"The new matter form is called a fermionic condensate and it is the sixth known form of matter -- after gases, solids, liquids, plasma and a Bose-Einstein condensate, created only in 1995.

"What we've done is create this new exotic form of matter," Deborah Jin, a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology's joint lab with the University of Colorado, who led the study, told a news conference.

"It is a scientific breakthrough in providing a new type of quantum mechanical behavior," added Jin.

"It is related to a Bose-Einstein condensate," Jin said. "It's not a superconductor but it is really something in between these two that may help us in science link these two interesting behaviors.

....They cooled potassium gas to a billionth of a degree C above absolute zero or minus 459 degrees F -- which is the point at which matter stops moving. " (unless you're driving a car on it)

 

they call this new science?  hell, we've known about fermionic condensate for years in these parts - it's called black ice - try driving on it...it's a superconductor allright - just ask my insurance agent...

tsk...cooling things to that degree is a daily occurrence if you live here in the northeast..