"Weizmann Institute physicists have demonstrated, for the first time, the existence of 'quasiparticles' with one quarter the charge of an electron...Fractional electron charges were first predicted over 20 years ago under conditions existing in the so-called quantum Hall effect, and were found by the Weizmann group some ten years ago."

Read more (http://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/site/en/weizman.asp?pi=371&doc_id=5139)

The link is wrong or the site down.

Give us a run down on what all this means.

What is the Hall effect?

All i know of a similar term, is the Integer Quantum Hall effect is a QM version of the Hall effect, observed in two-dimensional electron systems subjected to low temperatures and strong magnetic fields, where the Hall conductivity σ takes on the quantized values also makes use of the Planck Constant:
σ = (v)(e²/h)

But that is all... :(

Give us a run down

Basically the researchers have setup a device that produces fractional (even, not odd) charges of an electron.
It is thought that Quarter-charge quasiparticles would behave differently from (the normal) odd fractionally charged particles.
ie Quarter-charge particle exchanges might preserve information on the particles’ history; which would be useful in future quantum computers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall_effect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_Hall_effect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractional_quantum_Hall_effect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaus_von_Klitzing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quasiparticle

What is the Hall effect?It's a magnetic effect. Essentially, a 2-d conductor (like a flat metal plate say) will produce a voltage across it perpendicular to the current flow - the Hall voltage. It's sort of a voltage induced by the magnetic field (which is produced by actual current flow) in a 2-d conductor. It applies to all conductors, but more apparent in "flat" ones, like metal plates. I guess wikipedia is a place to start.

The classical Hall effect has been known about since the 19th century, though - you used to be able to buy PC keyboards in the 80s made with Hall switches, made by Cherry I think among others.

That's cool.

Thanks for the info, guys.