"This discovery tells us that room-temperature superconductivity is not ruled out by fundamental constants," said Professor Pickard of the University of Cambridge, co-author of this study.

"The fundamental constants could instantaneously change and the world as we know it would collapse like a house of cards." The false vacuum theory isn't new. But the researchers believe that their ...

Though Planck's idea was not immediately believed by most physicists, it is now accepted as one of the fundamental constants in the universe. In fact, Planck himself wasn't sure if it was more ...

For example, there is a suggestion that the fundamental constants might not actually be constant, explains Tofful. Optical clocks can achieve levels of accuracy that could detect these changes.

More precise frequency standards will open ways to more sensitive quantum-based standards for applications such as inertial navigation, magnetometry, gravity gradiometry, measurements of the ...