Private investment in fusion firms jumps by $4.5bn
Some 70% of fusion firms still expect private fusion to deliver commercial electricity by the 2030s
Read article: Private investment in fusion firms jumps by $4.5bn
News
Read article: Private investment in fusion firms jumps by $4.5bn
National Science Foundation’s X-Labs initiative draws fire as ‘terrible idea’
Criticism comes from former presidential science adviser and NSF director Neal Lane
Read article: National Science Foundation’s X-Labs initiative draws fire as ‘terrible idea’
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
Read article: Vera C Rubin Observatory kicks off 10-year quest to map the cosmos
CERN says Large Hadron Collider has ‘exceeded every expectation’ as it shuts down ahead of major upgrade
The shutdown will involve removing and replacing 1.2 km of magnets and components
Read article: CERN says Large Hadron Collider has ‘exceeded every expectation’ as it shuts down ahead of major upgrade
Belgian Nobel-prize-winning theoretical physicist François Englert dies aged 93
Englert shared the 2013 Nobel Prize for Physics with Peter Higgs
Read article: Belgian Nobel-prize-winning theoretical physicist François Englert dies aged 93
AI data centres’ electricity use nears country-scale levels, finds report
A recent United Nations report shows the stark environmental cost of a rapidly growing AI industry
Read article: AI data centres’ electricity use nears country-scale levels, finds report
Research updates
Metasurface grating gives solar telescopes a boost
New optical device could fly on future space missions that study solar magnetic fields and space weather
Read article: Metasurface grating gives solar telescopes a boost
Satellite-based sensor system designed to detect nuclear weapons in space
Proposed inspector satellite could one day provide a means for verifying the Outer Space Treaty
Read article: Satellite-based sensor system designed to detect nuclear weapons in space
Metamaterial boosts heat transfer on the nanoscale
New finding could help improve technologies such as on-chip cooling and thermophotovoltaic systems
Read article: Metamaterial boosts heat transfer on the nanoscale
Powerful cosmic winds may have destroyed galaxies in the early universe
Astronomers discover a huge plume of gas streaming out of a galaxy during rapid star formation
Read article: Powerful cosmic winds may have destroyed galaxies in the early universe
Frost spreads across surfaces via suspended ‘ice bridges’
Previously unknown pathway involving superhydrophobic surfaces could influence the development of new anti-icing techniques
Read article: Frost spreads across surfaces via suspended ‘ice bridges’
Does the Bullet Cluster contain a lot less dark matter than we thought?
New analysis of JWST observations suggests that the Bullet Cluster of galaxies might only have half as much dark matter as previously believed
Read article: Does the Bullet Cluster contain a lot less dark matter than we thought?
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Features
AI’s black box problem: discovering physics we don’t understand
Claire Malone wonders what happens if AI produces answers we can’t – or don’t – understand
Read article: AI’s black box problem: discovering physics we don’t understand
From ideas to industry: a theoretical physicist’s journey into Silicon Valley
From a classroom science demonstration to using quantum optics to improve the energy efficiency of deep learning – Ryan Hamerly on his career path
Read article: From ideas to industry: a theoretical physicist’s journey into Silicon Valley
‘Amaze, amaze, amaze’: in Project Hail Mary, science and friendship save the day
Andrew Glester and Tushna Commissariat delve into the science and story of Project Hail Mary
Read article: ‘Amaze, amaze, amaze’: in Project Hail Mary, science and friendship save the day
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
What physicists can do to support the green economy
Matin Durrani summarizes a debate at the Institute of Physics on the future of green energy
Read article: What physicists can do to support the green economy
From equations to nuclear medicine: Keamogetswe Ramonaheng on building medical physics in Africa
Keamogetswe Ramonaheng discusses her life in medical physics
Read article: From equations to nuclear medicine: Keamogetswe Ramonaheng on building medical physics in Africa
From the blog
Study reveals the energy cost of Hannibal’s Alpine crossing
The Col du Clapier route would have been the more energetically favourable
Read article: Study reveals the energy cost of Hannibal’s Alpine crossing
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’
Stunning Moon sculpture unveiled at Royal Observatory Greenwich
Mirror Moon has been created by the British artist Luke Jerram
Read article: Stunning Moon sculpture unveiled at Royal Observatory Greenwich
Fractal maths helps distinguish genuine artworks from forgeries
The new technique offers a new way to tackle art fraud
Read article: Fractal maths helps distinguish genuine artworks from forgeries
Research on magnetic plasma confinement wins Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion Outstanding Paper Prize
The work is an important step to understanding the physics of “negative triangularity”
Read article: Research on magnetic plasma confinement wins Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion Outstanding Paper Prize
Experiment that may or may not disprove Bohmian mechanics continues to spark debate
Is the controversy settled? Only when pigs – and pilot waves – fly, writes Tim Wogan
Read article: Experiment that may or may not disprove Bohmian mechanics continues to spark debate
Analysis
Measuring the invisible: how internal dosimetry shapes radiation protection
Assessing the impact of radiation exposure is crucial for protecting the health of workers, but expert judgement is needed to interpret the results
Read article: Measuring the invisible: how internal dosimetry shapes radiation protection
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
Mass spectrometry delivers fusion insights
A quadrupole mass analyser has been designed for fusion research
Read article: Mass spectrometry delivers fusion insights
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