Every quantum particle has spin — an intrinsic magnetic property, like a tiny arrow. In an experiment, a beam of such particles passing through a magnet splits in two, like a coin that lands either heads or tails. That’s exactly how particles like a hydrogen atom behave.

But new research shows that the same “coin” can be made to work like a multi-faced die. All you need are tight constraints — for instance, locking the particle in a cramped trap. Then its mathematical description changes, and instead of just two options, the magnetic field pulls out a fan of many traces. In condensed matter (solid materials), this trick explains unusual properties and hints at how to create substances with tailored characteristics. The most astonishing part: one and the same electron can masquerade as possessing any spin, blurring the usual distinctions between particles.