04 September 2026

Comparison using signals sent over fibre-optic cable tests agreement between seven devices spread across Europe.

Optical clocks, such as this strontium clock, are helping metrologists to redefine the second. Credit: Andrew Brookes, National Physical Laboratory/Science Photo Library

A new way to define the second could be closer than ever, thanks to a comparison of the accuracy of seven cutting-edge clocks in four countries1.

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