http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/releases/2004/112.cfm

Proof of New State of Matter Is in the Jelly
April 27, 2004

In the community of very tiny particles that make up all matter in the universe, there are two main citizens: bosons and fermions. Bosons are socially oriented and tend to stick together, while fermions are solitary entities, preferring to go it alone.

That's why NASA-funded researchers overcame an important technical challenge when they recently persuaded reclusive fermion atoms to act like their friendly boson buddies and jiggle together in an ultra-cold, jelly-like state of matter.

The findings, published in the online version of Physical Review Letters, represent the first direct evidence for a fermion atom superfluid – a frictionless fluid made up of a gas of fermion atoms. Such bizarre atomic soups will help physicists understand how matter behaves at its most fundamental level, and will serve as models for exotic systems in nature, such as neutron stars and new super- high- temperature superconductors that could potentially function at thousands of degrees Celsius.

(Much more at site...)

(Thanks to ShawnW and the Slugs!)