Back in 2006, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology developed a very precise clock based on a single mercury atom. It would neither gain nor lose a second in about 400 million years. This is FAR more accurate than the current atomic clock standard used across the U.S. which only keeps time accurate to a mere 100 million years. You can read more about it here.

But, not to be outdone, they NOW have a clock that is even more precised based on a single atom of aluminum. It will neither gain nor lose a second in about 3.7 billion years, making it about 9 times more precise than the mercury-based clock.

So…why? I mean, it’s not like I can strap this to my wrist. Well, the precision offered by by these clocks is already providing record measurements of possible changes in the fundamental “constants” of nature which has important implications for tests of the laws of physics, such as Einstein’s theories of special and general relativity. These next-generation clocks may help develop new types of gravity sensors to aid exploration of underground natural resources and fundamental studies of the Earth. Other applications may include exceedingly precise automatic navigation, such as landing planes by GPS. Read more about it here.