Regina Barber

Right. I mean, so we're planning to go to Mars, maybe even further into space.

That's why today on the show, space clocks. How scientists are pushing the envelope to build an atomic clock with even better precision. And what that could mean for addressing some of the biggest mysteries of the universe. You're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR. All right. You ventured actually a few miles north in D.C.

That's why today on the show, space clocks. How scientists are pushing the envelope to build an atomic clock with even better precision. And what that could mean for addressing some of the biggest mysteries of the universe. You're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR. All right. You ventured actually a few miles north in D.C.

That's why today on the show, space clocks. How scientists are pushing the envelope to build an atomic clock with even better precision. And what that could mean for addressing some of the biggest mysteries of the universe. You're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR. All right. You ventured actually a few miles north in D.C.

to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, which we've been to together and it's like super cool. Yeah. Goddard is a campus.

to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, which we've been to together and it's like super cool. Yeah. Goddard is a campus.

to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, which we've been to together and it's like super cool. Yeah. Goddard is a campus.

I mean, that's a good acronym. Like physicists and astronomers, like we're obsessed with acronyms.

I mean, that's a good acronym. Like physicists and astronomers, like we're obsessed with acronyms.

I mean, that's a good acronym. Like physicists and astronomers, like we're obsessed with acronyms.

Okay, I loved optical benches when I was like a physics undergrad and I was always the student that screwed in the beam splitters in the mirrors. Of course you were.

Okay, I loved optical benches when I was like a physics undergrad and I was always the student that screwed in the beam splitters in the mirrors. Of course you were.

Okay, I loved optical benches when I was like a physics undergrad and I was always the student that screwed in the beam splitters in the mirrors. Of course you were.

Right. So tell me about the atomic clocks that are like in space orbiting like right now.

Right. So tell me about the atomic clocks that are like in space orbiting like right now.

Right. So tell me about the atomic clocks that are like in space orbiting like right now.

OASIC. It's a science OASIS cover band.

OASIC. It's a science OASIS cover band.

OASIC. It's a science OASIS cover band.

Yeah, so most atomic clocks use an atom of cesium or rubidium, but in general, I think it's, like, easiest to explain this process with, like, the element hydrogen because it just has one proton at its center and one electron orbiting it. And like orbit is a bit of a simplification for now, but let's just say orbit. Electrons, they have these different orbits.