ScienceJuly 10, 2026

condensate

/ˈkɒndɛnseɪt/

Definition

A state of matter formed at temperatures near absolute zero where individual atoms collapse into a single quantum state, behaving as a unified wave.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'condensatus,' the past participle of 'condensare,' meaning 'to make dense or thicken.' In physics, it refers to the process where a gas or vapor transitions into a more dense, ordered state.

In the news

In the article, the Bose-Einstein condensate is the specific quantum state NASA scientists are creating and observing aboard the ISS to study matter at the coldest possible temperatures.

NASA is creating a fifth state of matter on the ISS, thanks to an upgrade to a mini-fridge-sized quantum lab

Read the full article ↗

Live Science

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