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Schrödinger’s anthill: Quantum entanglement found in a crystal large enough to hold

Schrödinger’s anthill: Quantum entanglement found in a crystal large enough to hold

Curator's Take

This article shows that a centimeter‑scale crystal can exhibit clear signatures of quantum entanglement, proving that genuinely macroscopic, everyday materials can host deep quantum correlations beyond the few‑particle regime explored in superconducting qubits and trapped ions. By linking such entanglement to the puzzling behavior of strange metals, the work bridges fundamental condensed‑matter theory with practical platforms for ultra‑precise sensing and potentially new quantum devices. The result underscores that scaling up quantum resources may be achievable without exotic nanostructures, though the experiments still rely on cryogenic conditions that must be overcome for real‑world applications.

— Mark Eatherly

Summary

A centimeter-sized crystal has revealed clear signs of quantum entanglement, showing that large, everyday objects can display surprisingly deep quantum behavior. The discovery could help solve the mystery of strange metals while opening new possibilities for ultra-precise quantum sensors and other advanced technologies.