text: Absolute zero is the point on the thermodynamic (absolute) temperature scale where all kinetic motion in the particles comprising matter ceases and they are at complete rest in the “classic” (non-quantum mechanical) sense. At absolute zero, matter contains no heat energy. By international agreement, absolute zero is a temperature of precisely −273.15 °C (−459.67 °F). Throughout the scientific world where measurements are made in SI units, thermodynamic temperature is measured in kelvins where absolute zero is 0 K. Many engineering fields in the U.S. measure thermodynamic temperature using the Rankine scale where absolute zero is 0 °R.\n\nScientists have made great advancements in achieving temperatures ever closer to absolute zero (where matter exhibits odd quantum effects). In 1994 the NIST achieved a record cold temperature of 700 nK (billionths of a kelvin). In 2003, researchers at MIT established a new record of 0.5 nK.\n\nHope that helped!