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Undersea optical fibres detect the motion of silent whales
Distributed acoustic sensing could provide a new tool for tracking whales around the world, even when they aren't vocalizing
Vera C Rubin Observatory kicks off 10-year quest to map the cosmos
The 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time will take a picture of the southern night sky every 3–4 nights
Research updates
‘Superallowed’ alpha decay seen for the first time
Observations could help us better understand how alpha particles form inside atomic nuclei
Can we create a shield to protect Earth from solar storms?
A space-based system could help deflect potentially catastrophic interplanetary weather
Encapsulation enhances surface structure imaging of 2D quantum material
New technique allows researchers to probe the top layer of an atomically thin topological quantum material for the first time
Cosmic crisis averted as supernovae put dark energy back on track
New study confirms accelerating expansion of the universe
New class of magnons live a hundred times longer
Discovery could help in the development of on-chip quantum information technologies that can be scaled down to the nanoscale
Laser-based rotation of floating samples enables high-resolution 3D microscopy
Laser-driven thermoviscous flows provide contact-free rotation, transport or stabilization of delicate samples such as biological cells
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Meet the demons: four mythical creatures that inhabit science
Scientists can learn a lot from diabolical creatures, Robert P Crease reveals
An open access future is only possible by addressing its problems
AI offers a challenge to the open-access business
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UTC Quantum Center: collaboration turns quantum discovery into quantum impact
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga signals its quantum ambitions
Read article: UTC Quantum Center: collaboration turns quantum discovery into quantum impact
Quiz of the week: how do scientists hope to protect Earth from dangerous solar storms?
Have you been keeping up to date with physics news? Try our short quiz to find out
Read article: Quiz of the week: how do scientists hope to protect Earth from dangerous solar storms?
Mass spectrometry delivers fusion insights
A quadrupole mass analyser designed for fusion research combines radiation hardness with the ability to distinguish between the light atomic species involved in the nuclear reactio...
Read article: Mass spectrometry delivers fusion insights
Physics World’s Margaret Harris honoured for ‘Feature of the Year’
Exploration of quirky Nobel prizes bags ABSW award
Read article: Physics World’s Margaret Harris honoured for ‘Feature of the Year’
A demon of a puzzle: interactive cryptic crossword
Try this thermodynamics-themed cryptic crossword, republished in interactive form
Read article: A demon of a puzzle: interactive cryptic crossword
The International System of Units: constantly evolving, but forever quirky
Ben Stein explores the quirks of the International System of Units
Read article: The International System of Units: constantly evolving, but forever quirky
Quiz of the week: what’s the secret to the Venus flytrap’s swift closure?
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Read article: Quiz of the week: what’s the secret to the Venus flytrap’s swift closure?
Word wave puzzle no.5
Can you work out the word in this puzzle?
Read article: Word wave puzzle no.5
Scottish quantum start-up Quantcore wins IOP qBIG prize
Firm develops superconducting processors, resonators and sensors for quantum computers
Read article: Scottish quantum start-up Quantcore wins IOP qBIG prize
Soviet institutes, Martian neighbours, Whovian science, stellar patterns and dystopian predictions: micro reviews of recent books
Condensed natter: Physics World editors give their compressed verdicts on top new books
Read article: Soviet institutes, Martian neighbours, Whovian science, stellar patterns and dystopian predictions: micro reviews of recent books
Venus flytraps snap shut by rapid cell-wall softening
Previous theory of water transport is ruled out
Read article: Venus flytraps snap shut by rapid cell-wall softening
Easy-to-use calculation tool estimates out-of-field neutron dose during proton therapy
Python-based tool calculates the neutron dose anywhere in a proton therapy treatment room using information from the treatment plan
Read article: Easy-to-use calculation tool estimates out-of-field neutron dose during proton therapy
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Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
For more than 60 years, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has applied science and technology to make the world a safer place. Its defining responsibility is ensuring the safety, security and reliability of the nation’s nuclear deterrent
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From bunkers to bright spaces: the future of smart shielded radiosurgery treatment rooms
Join the audience for a live webinar at 4 p.m. GMT/5 p.m. CET on 31 March 2026
Discover how smart shielding enables bright, modern radiosurgery rooms beyond traditional bunker designs
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Innovations in Applied Mechanics 2026
23—26 September 2026 | London, UK
Innovations in Applied Mechanics brings together two previous, highly successful conferences MPSVA – Modern Practice in Stress and Vibration Analysis and DAMAS – International Conference on Damage Assessment in Structures to present research findings in stress analysis, vibration dynamics and structural damage assessment with the intention of providing directed focus on the state-of-the-art in theoretical and experimental methodology.
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