A magnetic trap captures elusive ultracold plasma
Cold plasma is squirrely, but researchers found a new way to hold it in place for a bit
![researcher working on laser-cooled plasma experiment](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/030421_mt_bottleplasma_feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
Using magnets, physicists can pin a laser-cooled plasma (experiment shown) in one place for up to half a millisecond — about 10 times longer than it would otherwise last.
Jeff Fitlow/Rice University