FAQs

All available issues of Physics World can be accessed via the Physics World website. Navigate to the "Magazine" tab on the main menu and follow the instructions from there.

All available issues can be explored through the Magazine archive page.

The monthly issues of Physics World magazine are only available to access by Institute of Physics (IOP) members. Non-members can access our annual careers guide and regular subject-specific supplements free of charge.

If you are an IOP member, then you need to register for a free account on Physics World and link it to your IOPConnect account. You will only need to link your accounts once.

If you don’t have an account on Physics World, click on the "Register" tab at the top of the site and enter your e-mail address. To continue the registration process you need to verify your e-mail address by clicking on the link in the e-mail that you’ll receive.

When completing your registration, there is a section called “My IOP membership”. If you are an IOP member, check the box and then click the “Link my accounts” button. Clicking this button will take you briefly offsite where you will need to log in to your IOPConnect account. Once logged in, the site will return you back to the Physics World registration form, where you will need to click “Next” to complete the remainder of your registration details.

If you are an IOP member, you need to link your Physics World account to your IOPConnect account. You will only need to link your accounts once.

Log in to your Physics World account and you will see a new section in the “My account” area called “My IOP membership”. If you are an IOP member, check the box and then click the “Link my accounts” button. Clicking this button will take you briefly offsite where you will need to log in to your IOPConnect account. Once logged in, the site will return you back to the Physics World account area, where you will be able to click “Update” and save your changes.

Only IOP members are able to access the monthly issues of Physics World. Non-members can access our annual careers guide and regular subject-specific supplements free of charge. These can be found through the Magazine archive page. You do not need to create a Physics World account to explore these editions.

If you’re having issues signing in to your Physics World account, first try resetting your password using the “Forgot your password” link available at the bottom of every sign-in point. This will generate an e-mail. You must click on the link in the e-mail to continue resetting your password.

If you’re still having issues signing in after you’ve reset your password, please contact customerservices@ioppublishing.org.

The verification e-mail to complete your account registration or change your password should arrive immediately. However, in some cases it takes longer. Don't forget to check your spam folder.

If you haven't received the e-mail in 24 hours, please contact customerservices@ioppublishing.org

If you have opted out of all communications from IOP Publishing in the past then you will need to contact us to change your contact preferences before we can complete your account registration. You can still choose to opt out of marketing from us.

We are aware of ongoing issues with physics.org e-mail addresses. The IOP is working to fix this but in the meantime it may help if you sign up to Physics World with a different e-mail address.

To link your IOPConnect account with Physics World you must be an active member of the IOP and know your log-in credentials to IOPConnect.

If you are not sure if you are an active member, please contact membership@iop.org for assistance.

If you are having issues logging in to IOPConnect, first try resetting your password using the “Don’t remember your password” link available at the bottom of the log-in page. Please note that if you have to reset your password while linking your Physics World and IOPConnect accounts, then you will not be automatically returned to Physics World. Instead, you will need to navigate back to the "My account" page on Physics World to restart the linking process.

If you are unable to log in to IOPConnect and/or do not receive your password reset e-mail in a timely manner, please contact membership@iop.org to confirm that you are using the correct e-mail address.

You will need to navigate to each issue page in order to access that edition of the magazine. Find the edition you want to view through the Magazine archive. To view the digital magazine, you will need to be signed in to your Physics World account so your credentials can be verified. If you have signed in and linked your accounts but still can’t access the monthly editions, please contact customerservices@ioppublishing.org.

The digital magazine works on desktop, tablet and mobile devices.

For information about joining the IOP, please explore membership.iop.org/become-a-member.

Yes, all IOP members who receive a print edition of Physics World can also access all the digital editions available.

First, ensure you are signed in to Physics World. Navigate to the issue you are interested in and scroll down to the e-magazine. To download an edition, click on the “Download issue as a PDF” button underneath the e-magazine (the icon is a page with a corner folded down). Please note the augmented features of the e-magazine are only available when connected to the Internet.

You will need an Internet connection to access and download PDF editions. Once you have downloaded an issue, it will then be available for you to read offline. Please note that the augmented features of the e-magazine are only available when connected to the Internet.

To provide the best experience possible to all users we have developed two different formats to suit different styles of reading Physics World.

The e-magazine provides the experience that is most similar to reading the print magazine – you can flick through pages and read the issue cover-to-cover. The online articles provide an easy jump point for those readers who want to dip in and out, while also being optimized for reading on mobile devices.

The monthly issues of Physics World are published on the Physics World website on the first working day of each month.

Notifications of new issues will be sent out in the IOP member newsletter at the beginning of each month.

Yes. You can bookmark pages to read later via the bookmark icon.

Ensuring that international members of the Institute of Physics are able to stay up to date with the latest breakthroughs in physics and interdisciplinary science through Physics World is important to us.

Due to the reliance on air freight, sending international copies accounts for 80% of the carbon emissions related to the total distribution of Physics World. As an organization committed to a more sustainable future, and to ensure that our international members receive timely, relevant science news, we have changed how you receive Physics World.

In recent years, many IOP members living outside the UK and Ireland have experienced issues with the delivery of their Physics World magazine, which, due to international mailing factors beyond our control, mean copies arrive late, sporadically or not at all. We’ve explored many options to try to resolve this. However, in too many cases the issues persist, caused by customs delays, import VAT issues and sudden changes to scheduled flights, among other factors.

In April 2024 we transitioned your monthly Physics World to our new and enhanced digital edition. This means that the March 2024 issue was your final print copy.

We are confident you will see the benefits of the enhanced digital Physics World service. It is accessible immediately, complete with video, podcasts and the latest big stories and key issues that matter to the physics community. We will offer whatever support you need to ensure you get the best experience from access to the digital edition.

We hope you understand the environmental reasons for this change underpinned by a more effective digital offering. We thank you for your ongoing support of the IOP and Physics World. If you have any questions or would like to discuss this with us, please get in touch at membership@iop.org.

We would like to thank you for being a member and hope that this change enables you to enjoy all the great content you expect from Physics World without disruption.

You have access to the Physics World digital magazine on the day it is published, with no delays.

You have access to the entire Physics World archive, free to browse at your leisure.

You are helping us to reduce carbon emissions.

Mailing cost savings will enhance the digital offer and contribute to the IOP’s charitable and strategic programmes, which benefit the physics community, promoting co-operation in physics around the world.

To access the Physics World digital magazine, you need to link your IOP member account (you may know this as IOPConnect) to a Physics World registered account. Please see the video at the top of this page and the first set of support questions and answers above to guide you through this process.

No, unless they have told us that they only wish to access Physics World via the digital edition, IOP members based in the UK or Ireland will continue to be mailed a printed edition. The international mailing issues affecting members based outside the UK and Ireland are not affecting domestic deliveries, and domestic distribution has a much lower carbon impact.

We know that while many of our international members will welcome this change, some will be disappointed to no longer receive a print copy of Physics World. However, because international mailing issues will persist and each international copy mailed adds to our carbon footprint, we’re not able to offer a print option.

We believe that a move to the digital edition enhances the service members receive. It means no delay in receiving the latest news – which has been an unavoidable effect of international mailing even when mailings arrived on time – and more content and past editions for you to enjoy.

Contact membership@iop.org for questions about your IOP membership. For questions about your Physics World account, please contact customerservices@ioppublishing.org.

Please contact Curtis Zimmermann for information on display advertising (curtis.zimmermann@ioppublishing.org) and Chris Thomas for information on recruitment advertising (chris.thomas@ioppublishing.org). You can also find out more information about our advertising options here.

We would really like to know what you like and dislike about the digital edition of Physics World to enable us to improve it with your needs in mind. Please send your comments and suggestions to pwld@ioppublishing.org.