For the first time, researchers have managed to create a “supersolid” state of matter from light. This is a special quantum phenomenon in which particles form an orderly crystal lattice but can still move freely without friction, like a liquid.
Previously, this had only been achieved with atomic gases at extremely low temperatures. Now it has become possible thanks to polaritons—particles that arise from a strong interaction between light and matter. They allow photons to condense and form ordered quantum structures.
This is not only a step toward understanding the nature of matter, but also a possible starting point for future technologies that still seem like science fiction.
