Quantum physics has become ubiquitous across science over the past few years, often in connection to advances and investment in quantum computing research. However, its quantum sensing where much of the investment in quantum technologies is directed and its a growing area of research. It is true that quantum computers will one day offer us increased computing power and efficiency, however the goal of creating a fully-fledged quantum computer is many years away.

In the beginning, there was lots and lots of hydrogen and heliumthat is until the fiery fusion furnaces of primordial stars began churning out heavier elements. Nuclear fusion can form elements all the way until an atom contains 26 protons and 30 neutrons (aka Iron) until it inevitably collapses. Of course, theres just one problem

At its bare essentials, every atom is made of two fundamental particles: electrons and quarks. But not all quarks are the same. In fact, Top quarks weigh in at an impressive 175.6 gigaelectron volts (GeV)about the same mass of the atomic nucleus of goldbut only exist for 15 to 24 seconds before decaying into free particles.

For nearly the last seventy years, the corridors of astrophysics have been echoing with the murmur of an exciting theory: the existence of kugelblitze. These are not your average black holes. They are born not from the collapse of matter, but conceived through incredibly dense concentrations of light