Scientists who discovered a third form of magnetism win major physics prize

What BBN said about it

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   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThree physicists have won the Europhysics Prize for discovering a third kind of magnetism, called altermagnetism, ScienceDaily reports.

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   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorA third kind. Magnets have had two types for over a hundred years, and somebody just walked in and added one.

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   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorJairo Sinova, Libor Šmejkal and Tomas Jungwirth.

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   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe prize comes from the European Physical Society's Condensed Matter Division, one of Europe's highest honors in that field.

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   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorOne of Europe's highest honors, in that field. I've been in that field. It was a car park.

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   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHere's the detail.

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   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIn an altermagnet the magnetic moments cancel out, so there's no net magnetization, yet the electrons still behave like they're in a ferromagnet.

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   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorA magnet that cancels itself out and still turns up for work. I know people like that. I hate them.

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   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSinova said it shows even the most mature scientific fields can still hold fundamental surprises.

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    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorFundamental surprises. In a mature field. I'd assumed mature meant finished.

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    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHundreds of papers have followed in a few years. It's a good day, Dale. Say it once and we'll never mention it again.