News Quantum Physics

Physicists measured Earth’s rotation using quantum entanglement

The experiment is a step toward testing how quantum physics interfaces with gravity 

Red squiggles representing photons are sent into a loop representing the optical fiber in an interferometer, which surrounds Earth on a starry backdrop

In a laboratory experiment, scientists sent entangled particles of light (red squiggles) into an interferometer (illustrated) that was sensitive enough to measure Earth’s rotation.

Marco Di Vita

By Emily Conover

Earth’s rotation has been measured many times over — but never like this. In a first, scientists used entangled quantum particles called photons to reveal the rate at which the globe spins.