NIST F2: The Atomic Clock | 100 Wonders | Atlas Obscura

In Boulder, Colorado is the clock that sets them all - Subscribe for new videos every Thurs bit.ly/1PcJ14b
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Written and hosted by Dylan Thuras (@dylanthuras)
Graphics by Michelle Enemark (@mjenemark)
Edited by Ryan Thompson
Credits for this episode:
• NIST Launches a New U....

[@davidboothe2574]

The security for your site has to be incredible. The world is counting on you being there and being safe.

[@george_o_wilson4290]

I love both Dylan's and Steve's enthusiasm, makes it very fun to watch! Keep up the good work!!

[@atlasobscura]

+RidingDutchMan Thanks! It was really fun to meet him and talk about the clock!

[@andeanbonvector8003]

one Mississippi. the standard. none of this malarkey needed

[@vermashwetank]

I wish this guy was my professor

[@atlasobscura]

+shwetank verma I know, he is amazing, right?!

[@vermashwetank]

+Atlas Obscura I am an engineering student. Many Professors who are really smart in their fields have trouble communicating with people who don't know anything. So this was quite surprising

[@danidzs]

+shwetank verma funny we have the same problem in the social sciences

[@SapphireX413]

I'm so glad I'm not the only person to have not gotten my license for a while! hahaha

[@atlasobscura]

+Beckah Mataronas Yeah it really took me a while! Congratulations on getting it!

[@SapphireX413]

+Atlas Obscura Still haven't! Haha but thank you kindly in advance!

[@rayday4644]

@@SapphireX413 Got your license yet?

[@SapphireX413]

@@rayday4644 No, and no intention of getting it soon. Trust me, everyone else on the road is safer that way 😂

[@tori8423]

when your camera fell off the dashboard I panicked because I thought you had gotten into a car accident!!

[@atlasobscura]

+Tori R Haha, I am glad someone is worried for my safety! Luckily that all happened in what is basically a long driveway, so it wasn't too terrible.

[@sameerathreya9253]

Orinoco Flow!!! Thanks for the track!!

[@theanxiousbench]

Wow...wow...wow....Thank you very much for this video!!

[@texaslonestarrider]

You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool the Atomic Clock all the time. Great video my friend!

[@atlasobscura]

+lonestarrider Thanks my friend! The Atomic Clock knows what's up. Cesium atoms cooled to near zero, that's what's up.

[@CinnamonCari]

Love this format! I knew the about atomic clocks, but it is kind of a strange concept to grasp, right? this helps a lot

[@atlasobscura]

+CinnamonCari It's really fun to do some in the field work! I have one I shot today outside of Madrid I am really excited about!

[@TheBoogerBuster]

Still wondering why you guys have so few subscribers! Your content is great!

[@atlasobscura]

+TheBoogerBuster Thanks! I like to think we are a bit of a hidden gem :)

[@danidzs]

+TheBoogerBuster It's growing every time! I discovered them a couple of months ago and I'm a fan. If they keep this up i'm sure it will grow!

[@atlasobscura]

+Daniel Zarate Thanks Daniel!

[@rifflerunderhill7006]

So amazing...I wish I were that smart. lol

[@atlasobscura]

+Riffler Underhill When I asked Steve to give me the complicated explanation he was like..."Yeah, no offense, but you don't want the complicated explanation" and he was totally right!

[@franklinha2587]

thank you. what happens when this one in Colorado fails? In a war, how protected are these clocks and their receivers/transmitters?

[@vanveenmatt]

I bought a watch recently that gets time from that atomic clock. Pretty cool! The most accurate watching the world. Lol

[@beenfrank]

Very interesting 🤔

[@ACN3388]

Another cool video, but I'm curious about something. It looks like you were alone in the car when you were filming but who, if anyone, was holding the camera while you were interviewing Mr. Jefferts?

[@atlasobscura]

+ACN3388 The magic of tripods! Just me, myself and I :)

[@recelehberger1603]

Do you live in Colorado? Cus I live in CO, and I think its awesome to find out the cool stuff like this that I had no clue is in my backyard.

[@atlasobscura]

+Rece Lehberger I don't but had the chance to visit, and it was fantastic. You can check out all of our Colorado wonders on the website here: www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/colorado

[@JxT1957]

So is this the atomic clock that sends off radio signals and calibrates my Casio Rangeman atomic watch?

[@ShioriWhitefeather]

Mother of god, I hit play, and thought you got into a car accident. xD Congrats on the license. Stay safe on the road :)

[@atlasobscura]

+ShioriWhitefeather Haha, thanks! Luckily that all happened in a driveway! I am not quite as irresponsible as to be filming on the open road. Close but not quite!

[@YourLifeWasting]

You figure it stand for National Institute of Standard Time

[@alexistarr]

It's not perfectly accurate though. The clock in the clock-tower at the end of my road is PERFECTLY accurate, TWICE a day. It has been so for years...

[@joeczd]

Gene hoglan??

[@semiramisbonaparte1627]

IS THIS CLOCK THAT CAUSES PROBLEMS NATIONWIDE IN THE UK...I THINK IT WAS RUNNING 6 MINUTES SLOW OR SOMETHING?

[@justmeeagainn]

These guys may be smart but they still make no sense.