ScienceAugust 9, 2026
metacrystal
MET-uh-kris-tuhl
Definition
An engineered material with a periodic structure that does not occur in nature, designed to manipulate quantum states of light.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek prefix 'meta-' (meaning beyond, after, or transcending) combined with the word 'crystal,' signifying a material that functions beyond the limits of naturally occurring crystalline structures.
In the news
The article describes how researchers created a metacrystal by carving tiny slits into gold, allowing it to filter quantum light at room temperature instead of requiring extreme cooling. This represents a shift toward designing artificial materials rather than searching for natural ones.
A hair-thin gold crystal could lift quantum tech out of the deep freeze
Read the full article ↗eGamers.io