Using atomic nuclei could allow scientists to read time more precisely than ever – what this research could mean for future clocks

Atomic clocks exploit the properties of atoms to create incredibly precise 'ticks.' Nate Phillips, NIST

Most clocks, from wristwatches to the systems that run GPS and the internet, work by tracking regular, repeating motions.

To build a clock, you need something that ticks in a perfectly repeatable way. In a pendulum clock, that tick is the regular swinging of the pendulum: back and forth, back and forth, at nearly the same rate each time.