They've shown that a synthetically grown sample of herbertsmithite crystal (what you see above) behaves as a quantum spin liquid: a material where fractional quantum states produce a liquid-like flux in magnetic orientations, even if the material is solid.

ENGADGET: MIT demos new form of magnetism that could lead to quantum communication, storage

This means that when a drop of liquid is mixed with a suitable solution of paramagnetic ions, which become magnetic in the presence of a permanent magnet, it will be pushed to where the field is weakest, and stay there.

ECONOMIST: Monitor