# Chinese scientists cool atoms to near absolute zero in record-breaking experiment

Source: [Latest from Live Science in Physics-mathematics](https://www.livescience.com/physics-mathematics/particle-physics/chinese-scientists-cool-atoms-to-near-absolute-zero-in-record-breaking-space-experiment) · 2026-11-12 · Physics
Page: https://themorning.science/story/chinese-scientists-cool-atoms-to-near-absolute-zero-in-record-breaking-experimen-74290ab9e7345ab2
Kind: research · Impact: medium

## In brief

- Scientists report cooling atoms to 10 picokelvins, which Live Science describes as barely above absolute zero and the coldest temperature ever recorded.
- The cooling was done with a laser trap aboard China's Tiangong space station.
- Live Science reported the experiment on 2026-11-12.

## Why it matters

Reaching temperatures this low in orbit, where microgravity is available, could enable cold-atom experiments that are difficult to run on Earth.

## Coverage

- [Chinese scientists cool atoms to near absolute zero in record-breaking experiment](https://www.livescience.com/physics-mathematics/particle-physics/chinese-scientists-cool-atoms-to-near-absolute-zero-in-record-breaking-space-experiment) — Latest from Live Science in Physics-mathematics, 2026-11-12

Tags: cold atoms, laser cooling, space station, quantum physics, tiangong

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Brief generated by AI (claude-haiku-5-5) from the reporting listed under Coverage. Headlines belong to their publishers. The Morning Science – https://themorning.science