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In depth: August 2009
Features
The Earth – for physicists
Scientists are beginning to understand the extent to which the evolution of our planet has been shaped by collisions, bombardments and catastrophes. John Baez tells the violent history of a pale-blue dot
Chamber simulates space on Earth
Stan Grisnik describes how NASA’s huge craft-testing facility can recreate the vacuum conditions of space.
RGA User Group offers broad appeal
Robin Hathaway explains how a user group provides a forum for sharing experiences and discovering new ways to exploit the powerful diagnostic features of residual gas analysers across a wide range of applications
Diamond coatings are branching out
Chris Walker looks at some of the uses of a novel amorphous diamond material
Voyager heads for interstellar space
Richard Corfield celebrates the 20 year anniversary since NASA's Voyager mission left the solar system and began the second leg of its epic journey — an exploration of interstellar space
Opinion
Threats to ultra-high-field MRI
A new European directive designed to prevent workers from being exposed to high magnetic fields could potentially have a severe impact on research into magnetic resonance imaging, warns Denis Le Bihan
Religion explained
Robert P Crease uncovers the secret of the conflict between science and religion in responses to a Physics World survey
