Editor's choice
Harvard University sues Trump administration as attacks on US science deepen
Harvard University is the suing the US government over its plan to block up to $9bn of government research grants to the institution
Spectacular images of the cosmos released to celebrate Hubble’s 35 years in orbit
A series of spectacular images of the cosmos has been released to celebrate the Hubble Space Telescope's 35 years in space
Research updates
Supercritical water reveals its secrets
New terahertz spectroscopy study puts to rest a long-standing controversy
Top-quark pairs at ATLAS could shed light on the early universe
Massive particles reveal properties of the quark–gluon plasma
Abnormal ‘Arnold’s tongue’ patterns appear in a real oscillating system
Ultrafast laser sheds new light on complex synchronization phenomena
Retinal stimulation reveals colour never before seen by the human eye
The Oz technique stimulates individual photoreceptor cells on the retina to directly control their activation
Strange metals get their strangeness from quantum entanglement
Physicists use the concept of quantum Fisher information to explain poor electrical conductivity in these unusual materials
KATRIN sets tighter limit on neutrino mass
New maximum for notoriously shy particle is 0.45 eV – 1 million times less than the electron
Celebrating the best of Critical Point
Critical Point has appeared in Physics World magazine since May 2000, written by science historian and philosopher Robert P Crease. Enjoy our pick of the best columns, which bring the perspective of an outsider looking in on the “workshop of science”.
Physics World podcasts
The latest opinion and reviews
Robert P Crease lifts the lid on 25 years as a ‘science critic’
Robert P Crease reflects on 25 years of column-writing for Physics World
James McKenzie: how I knew the writing was on the wall for our rival’s lighting technology
James McKenzie says that if businesses don’t evaluate customer feedback they’re in danger of going to the wall
Physics World podcast
Explore our two regular podcast series! Physics World Weekly looks at the latest events and headlines in physics, as well as featuring short interviews with scientists and our team of journalists. Physics World Stories takes a more in-depth look at a topic.
Read more of our latest articles
Read article: FLIR MIX – a breakthrough in infrared and visible imaging
FLIR MIX – a breakthrough in infrared and visible imaging
Join the audience for a live webinar at 2 p.m. BST/3 p.m. CEST on 19 May 2025, sponsored by Teledyne FLIR LLC
Read article: Grete Hermann: the quantum physicist who challenged Werner Heisenberg and John von Neumann
Grete Hermann: the quantum physicist who challenged Werner Heisenberg and John von Neumann
Sidney Perkowitz pays tribute to the pioneering contributions to quantum physics by Grete Hermann
Read article: Tennis-ball towers reach record-breaking heights with 12-storey, 34-ball structure
Tennis-ball towers reach record-breaking heights with 12-storey, 34-ball structure
Andria Rogava is back with more spectacular structures made from tennis balls
Read article: On the path towards a quantum economy
On the path towards a quantum economy
Feasibility studies are enabling industry experts to collaborate with quantum specialists to discover the potential benefits of quantum computing for their businesses and their customers
Read article: Microwaves slow down chemical reactions at low temperatures
Microwaves slow down chemical reactions at low temperatures
Radiation affects quantum states of carbon monoxide
Read article: Helium nanobubble measurements shed light on origins of heavy elements in the universe
Helium nanobubble measurements shed light on origins of heavy elements in the universe
Particle-accelerator study focuses on the r-process thought to be responsible for forming elements heavier than iron
Read article: Schrödinger cat states like it hot
Schrödinger cat states like it hot
Superpositions persist at temperatures up to 1.8 K – practically oven-like by quantum standards
Read article: Very high-energy electrons could prove optimal for FLASH radiotherapy
Very high-energy electrons could prove optimal for FLASH radiotherapy
THERYQ is developing a radiotherapy system that uses very high-energy electrons to treat deep-seated tumours, and can also enable FLASH treatments
Read article: Tiny sensor creates a stable, wearable brain–computer interface
Tiny sensor creates a stable, wearable brain–computer interface
A microscale brain sensor enables thought control of external devices, even during intense motion
Read article: Physicists gather in Nottingham for the IOP’s Celebration of Physics 2025
Physicists gather in Nottingham for the IOP’s Celebration of Physics 2025
Matin Durrani reports from the 2025 IOP Celebration of Physics in Nottingham, UK
Read article: Two-dimensional metals make their debut
Two-dimensional metals make their debut
New structures could be used to study fundamental physics phenomena and to make electronic devices
Read article: Bilayer optical lattices could unravel the secret of high-temperature superconductivity
Bilayer optical lattices could unravel the secret of high-temperature superconductivity
Proposal would explore macroscopic quantum phenomena in many-body systems
Read article: The quantum Zeno effect: how the ‘measurement problem’ went from philosophers’ paradox to physicists’ toolbox
The quantum Zeno effect: how the ‘measurement problem’ went from philosophers’ paradox to physicists’ toolbox
A stand-out example of quantum weirdness is turning out to be surprisingly useful, as Margaret Harris explains
Read article: Intercalation-based desalination and carbon capture for water and climate sustainability
Intercalation-based desalination and carbon capture for water and climate sustainability
Join the audience for a live webinar at 6 p.m. BST/1 p.m. EDT on 7 May 2025, sponsored by The Electrochemical Society
Read article: Photon collisions in dying stars could create neutrons for heavy elements
Photon collisions in dying stars could create neutrons for heavy elements
Simulations shed light on the r-process of nucleosynthesis
Read article: Researchers claim Trump administration is conducting ‘a wholesale assault on science’
Researchers claim Trump administration is conducting ‘a wholesale assault on science’
Some 1900 members of the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have signed an open letter condemning the policies introduced by Donald Trump
Read article: Ultrashort electron beam sets new power record
Ultrashort electron beam sets new power record
Femtosecond-long, petawatt-peak power beam could be used to probe previously inaccessible phenomena in materials science, quantum physics and even astrophysics
Read article: Quantum Mpemba effect appears in a real experimental system
Quantum Mpemba effect appears in a real experimental system
Trapped ion prepared in a specific pure state follows an exponentially quicker path to relaxation
Physics World Jobs offers a range of opportunities for jobseekers with a background in physics or engineering. At all stages of your career, we can help find the job for you
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
Tune into online presentations that allow expert speakers to explain novel tools and applications
Start-stop operation and the degradation impact in electrolysis
26 February 2025
Join this webinar by The Electrochemical Society to explore the impact of intermittent operation on electrolyzer degradation
Stay up to date with the latest international conferences, symposia and exhibitions for interdisciplinary scientists working across academic research and industry
Flat Bands, Strong Correlations, and Heavy Fermions
31 March — 4 April 2025 | Dresden, Germany
This one-week workshop will bring together the communities interested in flat bands of moiré structures and frustrated-lattice materials on the one hand, and strongly correlated electron systems anchored by f-electron materials on the other, with Kondo physics serving as an intellectual link.
Copyright © 2025 by IOP Publishing Ltd and individual contributors