Classical Topological Insulator

Finding order in disorder demonstrates a new state of matter: 'Spindoctors' note that topological order, associated with quantum mechanics, also applies to classical material called artificial spin ice

A sphere and a donut are examples of topological order. Without cutting it in half, a donut can be reshaped to make a coffee cup or any number of shapes, but a sphere can never be re-shaped into a coffee cup, because it has no hole to begin with. These same kinds of topological mathematics have been applied to quantum mechanics in a variety of ways in recent years with enormous success.

Quantum mechanics and thermodynamics are both ad hoc theories, that is, they are arbitrary collections of approximations and principles, like Heisenberg's Uncertainty, that don't have any accepted coherent unifying theory. Despite that, they are both incredibly accurate and useful, and finding a topological bridge between the two means they can test both theories in ways no one has dreamed of. In particular, this could be related to how space and time exchange identities in observable ways in different materials and could shed light on how to reconcile the two theories.