When a material is constantly "thinned" to only atomic-level thickness, its properties will undergo unexpected changes. A research team from the University of Texas at Austin in the United States has discovered that in an ultrathin two-dimensional magnetic material, two rare magnetic states will occur successively as the temperature drops. This result has for the first time comprehensively verified the two-dimensional "six-state clock model" proposed in the 1970s, providing an important experimental basis for the study of two-dimensional magnetism and nanoscale magnetic structures. This progress may offer inspiration for future ultra-compact technologies. The relevant achievements were published in the latest issue of the journal Nature Materials.