NYU Scientists Discover Levitating Time Crystals You Can Hold in Your Hand

Researchers create a visible, levitating system powered by sound that demonstrates a new phase of matter with potential technological applications.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Scientists at New York University have achieved a breakthrough in the realm of time crystals, creating a visible, levitating system powered by sound. This classical time crystal system, which uses polystyrene beads suspended by acoustic levitation, exhibits self-sustaining, repeating motion without external energy input - a phenomenon that challenges conventional physics and opens doors to new possibilities in precision measurement and device design.

Why it matters

Time crystals are a fascinating new phase of matter that could lead to advancements in technology, from more stable timing devices to supporting systems for quantum computing. Unlike regular crystals with a repeating structure in space, time crystals repeat in time, cycling through motion at a steady rhythm without external input. This spontaneous, self-sustaining oscillation has significant implications for precision measurement and device design.

The details

The NYU team's system utilizes an acoustic levitator, a device that uses sound waves to trap small objects. Two polystyrene beads are held in place by these sound waves, interacting by scattering sound back and forth. This interaction creates nonreciprocal forces - where the force exerted by one bead on the other isn't equal in the opposite direction - allowing energy from the static sound field to balance friction and maintain long-lived oscillations. High-speed cameras track the beads' movement, sometimes for hours, revealing a coherence that defies expectations.

  • The experiment operates at 40 kilohertz, a frequency beyond human hearing.

The players

David Grier

Physics Professor and director of NYU's Center for Soft Matter Research.

NYU

New York University, where the research on this classical time crystal system was conducted.

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What they’re saying

“Time crystals are fascinating not only because of the possibilities, but also because they seem so exotic and complicated. Our system is remarkable because it's incredibly simple.”

— David Grier, Physics Professor (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

Researchers are now exploring other wave-based platforms, including optical and mechanical systems, to determine if similar principles apply. Further investigation will focus on harnessing this time-crystal behavior for sensing applications and exploring its potential for detecting subtle environmental changes.

The takeaway

This research on classical time crystals demonstrates how dissipation and nonreciprocal interactions can be leveraged to stabilize self-sustaining oscillations, providing insights that could be applied to more fragile quantum systems and lead to advancements in precision measurement, sensing, and device design.