> In physics, zero on the Kelvin scale is also known by which term?And the answer: absolute zero. Photo courtesy: Andrew Johnson / Getty Images.The Kelvin temperature scalebegins at zero, known as absolute zero, which is the lowest temperature that istheoretically possible. It's equivalent to –273.15 degrees Celsius.In 1848, William Thomson, also known as Lord Kelvin, began to theorize on thefreezing point of molecules. Following a discovery regarding the relationshipbetween the volume and the temperature of gasses, Kelvin investigated the notionthat the volume of a gas should become zero at a temperature of minus 273.15 C.As a result, Kelvin’s studies gave way to what he termed "absolute zero," or thepoint where molecules stopped moving. Also referred to as "infinite cold," thisthreshold is not technically possible to reach. Scientists have recently usedlasers to draw extremely close to Kelvin’s fated zero, yet it stands as more ofa point of reference for temperature increments equivalent to Celsius.Because absolute zero does not include negative values, it is a helpful scalefor reading the low temperatures of elements such as helium and nitrogen inliquid forms. It is also helpful for calculating differences in temperatureacross disciplines of physics, chemistry and biology. Fun fact!The closer scientists draw to absolute zero, the wackier the properties of theelement become. At low enough temperatures, liquid helium can become a sort ofsuperfluid, or a liquid able to flow without any resistance of friction. Thisenables the substance to do things such as spontaneously flow upward or seepthrough molecule-sized cracks. Considering the temperatures to unlock theseproperties are colder than that of outer space, no wonder absolute zero is outof this world!

