{"id":197654,"date":"2025-06-19T17:11:19","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T17:11:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/197654\/"},"modified":"2025-06-19T17:11:19","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T17:11:19","slug":"new-solution-to-120-year-old-absolute-zero-problem-shows-einstein-was-wrong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/197654\/","title":{"rendered":"New Solution to 120-Year-Old ‘Absolute Zero’ Problem Shows Einstein was Wrong"},"content":{"rendered":"

University of Seville professor Jos\u00e9 Mar\u00eda Mart\u00edn-Olalla has published a new solution to a 120-year-old problem regarding matter states at absolute zero that disproves a previous solution offered by famed scientist Albert Einstein<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The controversy originally arose in 1905 when Walther Nernst proposed a new approach to the properties of matter as entropy causes them to approach absolute zero (minus 273 degrees Celsius). Dubbed Nerst\u2019s theorem, the concept argued that absolute zero<\/a> must be inaccessible, or one could theoretically construct an engine that uses absolute zero as a coolant to convert all heat energy into work. This idea goes directly against the accepted thermodynamic idea<\/a> of entropy increase.<\/p>\n

After Nerst proposed his conceptual engine, Einstein responded, noting that the theoretical engine could not be built and therefore did not constitute a real violation of the second law of thermodynamics. By offering this rebuttal, Olalla says Einstein essentially \u201cdetached\u201d Nerst from the second law altogether.<\/p>\n

In a statement announcing his new approach, Olalla points to a fundamental flaw with the entire discussion. Specifically, he states that a core problem with thermodynamics<\/a> is that people tend to think of temperature in terms of a \u201csensation\u201d of hot or cold and not \u201cthe abstract concept of temperature as a physical quantity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the discussion between Nernst and Einstein, temperature was merely an empirical parameter: the absolute zero condition was represented by the condition that the pressure or volume of a gas became close to zero,\u201d Olalla explained.<\/p>\n

Instead, Olalla notes that the second law of thermodynamics offers scientists a \u201cmore concrete idea of the natural zero temperature.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe idea is not related to any sensation, but to that engine imagined by Nernst, but which has to be virtual,\u201d the professor explains. \u201cThis radically changes the approach to the proof of the theorem\u201d.<\/p>\n

With this in mind, Olalla\u2019s new Proof of the Nerst Theorem<\/a>, published in the European Physical Journal Plus, highlights the two \u201cnuances\u201d left out by both Nerst and Einstein, which he says support the former and prove the latter wrong.<\/p>\n

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First, he says that the \u201cformalism\u201d of thermodynamics essentially requires the existence of Nerst\u2019s theoretical engine. However, the described machine must also be virtual, does not consume any heat, does not produce any work, and does not question the second principle. Olalla says the \u201cconcatenation\u201d of these two nuances \u201callows us to conclude that entropy exchanges tend to zero when the temperature tends to zero (which is Nernst\u2019s theorem) and that absolute zero is inaccessible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Because the newly proposed solution, which says Nerst was correct and Einstein was wrong, employs an unconventional approach, it is still not generally accepted. Fortunately, Olalla says that publishing this article laying out his own solution is a \u201cfirst step\u201d toward his concept gaining wider support.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe students on the thermodynamics course I teach were the first to learn about this demonstration. I hope that with this publication the demonstration will become better known, but I know that the academic world has a great deal of inertia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on <\/strong>X<\/strong><\/a>, learn about his books at <\/strong>plainfiction.com<\/strong><\/a>, or email him directly at <\/strong>christopher@thedebrief.org<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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