You can sort tiny particles just by making them 'forget' where they're going and forcing them to restart over and over.
March 23, 2026
Original Paper
Sorting by Resetting
arXiv · 2603.19430
The Takeaway
This 'sorting-by-resetting' method allows researchers to organize matter in ways that are usually considered impossible under standard thermodynamic laws. It proves that simply resetting a system's memory can achieve physical tasks that usually require complex external work.
From the abstract
A novel paradigm for sorting is introduced, based upon resetting. Using simple examples, we demonstrate that sorting is achieved by resetting the velocity component(s) or orientation of the particles, rather than position. The objects to be sorted are microparticles, modeled as suspended and spatially extended Brownian particles. This sorting-by-resetting scheme illustrates that stochastic resetting can create non-equilibrium conditions which enable tasks forbidden at thermodynamic equilibrium.