Scientists Just Measured an Energy Pulse Smaller Than a Trillionth of a Billionth of a Joule

Researchers in Finland built an ultrasensitive calorimeter that detected a microwave pulse carrying just 0.83 zeptojoules of energy.

It is the first reported calorimetric device to reach this level of sensitivity, marking a new record for tiny quantum energy measurements.

The work could improve readout for quantum computers and help detect extremely weak signals, including from elusive dark matter candidates like axions.

The advance brings calorimetry closer to single-photon-level detection and opens new possibilities for low-temperature quantum sensing.