One of the hallmark predictions of quantum mechanics is that particles behave unpredictably—but a new experiment seems to complicate some of those core ideas.

Researchers were able to predict a kind of atomic behavior called a quantum jump and even reverse the jump in a new experiment on an artificial atom. Such research could bring up bigger questions about the nature of physics and could have important implications for improving quantum computers that rely on the rules of quantum mechanics in order to function.

“Our experiment shows that there’s more to the story” of how quantum mechanics works, study author Zlatko Minev, a researcher at IBM’s Thomas J. Watson Research Center, told Gizmodo.