The theory was developed by Neils Bohr's great-grandson. The use of a special type of atom could make even the most advanced atomic clocks more precise, scientists believe. If confirmed, this ...

From space, the Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space will link to some of the most accurate clocks on Earth to create a synchronized network, which will support tests of fundamental physics.

There are hundreds of atomic clocks in orbit right now, perched on satellites all over Earth. We depend on them for GPS location, Internet timing, stock trading and even space navigation.

While clock synchronization is currently done using GPS, this protocol could make it possible to precisely synchronize clocks in places where GPS access is limited, like the moon or deep space.

The European Space Agency’s ACES mission could ultimately pave the way for a global network of atomic clocks that make these measurements far more accurate. In 2003, engineers from Germany and ...