It’s the same old story. A single photon walks into a cloud of rubidium atoms on a cool night that’s only a few degrees above absolute zero. Another single photon walks into the same cloud. They bump into each other, fall in love, and leave together.
Wait! That’s not the same old story! It’s brand new because it’s never happened before! Photons never fell in love like this!
Usually photons aren’t interested in each other at all! They’re so self-absorbed that they just ignore each other. Science has been trying to figure out what song to play to get photons in the mood and bond as a single molecule. Turns out it’s Celine Dion…with rubidium atoms and freezing temperatures. But Celine helps.
So why all these (clever) jokes and (romantic) stories about photons? Because the scientists and researchers at MIT and Harvard say that this new matter is kinda like a lightsaber!
This means Star Wars is real and I am a Jedi Knight!
It really means that we could use this to make quantum computers. Which would be cool. Imagine your computer being better than Batman’s computer. THAT is why we want quantum computers.
Also, imagine a lightsaber.
My Halloween costume is going to be so good this year. You’ll be so jealous when you see me with a real lightsaber.
Unless you’re a Sith. Then you won’t be jealous, you’ll just be scared. Because I’m, like, an awesome Jedi. Better than awesome, even.
I’m off to get some photons and rubidium atoms in a cold room.
Enjoy Everything.
-dj
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