[Inori]

After creating a Bose-Enstein condensate by cooling Rubidium atoms to just over absolute zero (-273 C or 0 K), then altering the atoms' spin in a laser trap, physicists at Washington State University observed matter with "negative mass", similar to how electrical charge can be positive or negative. One of the co-authors commented, "With negative mass, if you push something, it accelerates toward you."

I can't immediately think of any application for this, but it's definitely a cool phenomenon. I'm also surprised how little trouble the researchers encountered, it seems almost as though this is naturally occurring with how flawlessly it went the first time.

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39642992

[mothered]

I find this quite amazing:

With negative mass, if you push something, it accelerates toward you.

It's like falling over something, but Instead you fall backwards.

[Blink]

Hmm...

We can make negative mass, but not zero mass.


That makes perfect sense to me, but is interesting if you think about it.

[Inori]

Hmm...

We can make negative mass, but not zero mass.


That makes perfect sense to me, but is interesting if you think about it.

There's also the topic of singularities. Effectively infinite mass and zero volume is a confusing concept.

[Shin]

I liked this thread.
No jokes

[Yaiba]

This stuff is confusing to me for some reason could you simplify it for me?

[Inori]

This stuff is confusing to me for some reason could you simplify it for me?

Can't really get much simpler than what I already quoted:

"With negative mass, if you push something, it accelerates toward you."

[Yaiba]

This stuff is confusing to me for some reason could you simplify it for me?

Can't really get much simpler than what I already quoted:

"With negative mass, if you push something, it accelerates toward you."

Oh ok thanks I read if over a few times now it makes sense to me

[Shin]

WTF.
That's actually sexy, it would make it easier to pull things.
I'm liking where the world is going.

[Bish0pQ]

Always found this kind of stuff interesting. It's pretty weird to be honest, but science can get weird. I always wander what kind of weird stuff wil be discovered one day.