tl;dr by ChatGPT:
Scientists have discovered a quasiparticle, the semi-Dirac fermion, which behaves unusually by having mass in one direction but being massless in another. Found in a ZrSiS crystal at extremely low temperatures, this particle challenges conventional physics. Researchers used magneto-optical spectroscopy and strong magnetic fields to observe it. The discovery opens new possibilities in quantum physics and electronics, though many questions remain unanswered.
Deutsch:
Wissenschaftler haben ein Quasiteilchen, das semi-Dirac-Fermion, entdeckt, das in eine Richtung masselos ist, in die andere jedoch Masse hat. Es wurde in einem ZrSiS-Kristall bei extrem niedrigen Temperaturen gefunden. Mithilfe von Magneto-Optischer Spektroskopie und starken Magnetfeldern konnte dieses ungewöhnliche Verhalten beobachtet werden. Die Entdeckung eröffnet neue Möglichkeiten in der Quantenphysik, wirft aber noch viele Fragen auf.
I do not understand this, so I’ll joke:
We should find out which direction is the common “massfull” direction, and call that “Universal Up.”
Unfortunately I think the directions are only local to the crystal lattice. And being a quasiparticle it is confined to the crystal.
On the up side, you could probably consider this to be an actual magic crystal with special properties, so there is that.
Regrettably, most of my mass is in a direction I would have to call, “down”…
(I don’t understand it either, so I’ll be self-deprecating!)
I was thinking about resistance, and energy required to lift things. But that works, too. I think “backwards” is also a good choice.
I’m studiously ignoring the reply that informed me that the direction is local, not universal, because that’s boring.