4 ms·

From the article: "They measured how long it takes for a photon to cross a hydrogen molecule: about 247 zeptoseconds for the average bond length of the molecule

From the article: "They measured how long it takes for a photon to cross a hydrogen molecule: about 247 zeptoseconds for the average bond length of the molecule. This is the shortest timespan that has been successfully measured to date." Incredible. Where the mind truly starts to boggle is remembering that a zeptosecond still falls incredibly short of the Planck time/distance at 5×10−44. It's certainly exciting to speculate how much closer to an actual Planck /measurement/ we may yet achieve.

chrisshroba 6y ago
For an idea of scale, 247 zepto seconds is as close to the Planck Time (on a log scale) as it is to about two weeks (13.1 days)[1] [1]: https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=5.39e-44%2F247e-21%3D247e-21%2F%2860*60*24*x%29 https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=5.39e-44%2F247e-21%3D2...
- bmcahren 6y ago
  Thank you
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
- _Microft 6y ago
  Alternative wording: the ratios of these pairs (13 days / 247zs) and (247zs / t_P) are approximately the same. t_P being the Planck time here.
  - SilasX 6y ago
    Another alternate wording: 247 zs is the geometric mean of t_P and 13.1 days.
    - waheoo 6y ago
      Planck time, 247 zeptoseconds, and 13.1days are equally far apart on log scale. Planck time is really small.
      - pwr22 6y ago
        Thanks, I can understand this one :P
- naniwaduni 6y ago
  https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=%28247+zs%29%5E2%2Fplanck+time https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=%28247+zs%29%5E2%2Fpla...
- elcomet 6y ago
  So we're still pretty far ! As I imagine an order of magnitude smaller requires an order of magnitude more money and complex equipments.
pjanoman 6y ago
And for anyone that wanted how large a zeptosecond is; it's 10^-21.