Phys.org
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at 09:20 PM1 min readVerified Wire
Light-controlled brake makes random molecular motion 300,000 times slower

Archived syndication image from Phys.org Direct Publisher Wire

Molecules are never still. Driven by thermal energy, they are constantly moving through space, while their individual parts also rotate relative to one another. Scientists at IOCB Prague have now shown that random motion within a molecule can be dramatically suppressed. Using light, they can slow down the relative rotation of two different parts of a single molecule by up to five orders of magnitude, paving the way for more complex molecular machines.
Developing story reported by Phys.org. Further verified dispatches and detailed updates will follow shortly as confirmed by correspondents.