Today's headlines
Ultracold atoms put high-temperature superconductors under the microscope
Physicists use a Bose-Einstein condensate to study phase transitions in an iron pnictide superconductor
First report of clinical MRI-Linac treatments wins journal citations prize
A research paper describing the first clinical use of an MRI-Linac for MRI-guided radiotherapy has won the 2020 PMB citations prize
Deep-learning model enables rapid lymphoma detection in PET/CT images
Deep-learning model enables rapid lymphoma detection in PET/CT images
Research updates
DNA origami makes 3D superconducting nanostructures
Complex three-dimensional nanostructures could find use in quantum computing and magnetic field sensing
Perovskites could be platforms for exciton condensates
Appearance of exciton vortices in hybrid halides suggests a possible route to Bose–Einstein condensates of electron–hole pairs at liquid nitrogen temperatures
Carbon ions team up with immunotherapy to tackle advanced tumours
Carbon-ion radiotherapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors could offer a promising new approach for treatment of metastatic cancer
Entangled erbium qubits are addressed individually in a crystal
Random shifts of optical properties could be exploited in quantum devices
Imaging spectrometer slims down
High-performance instrument is small enough to fit on drones and satellites and could even fly on planetary exploration missions
Molecular spins show promise as quantum bits
Physicists and chemists team-up to create new materials for quantum computing
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Helen Berman: the crystallographer who pioneered the Protein Data Bank
Robert P Crease talks to the driving force behind our understanding of protein structures
Building a flexible future
Deji Akinwande is an applied physicist and electrical engineer who develops flexible electronic devices based on 2D materials
Physics in the pandemic: reports on how physicists are coping with the effects of the coronavirus
Read article: Physics in the pandemic: ‘This coronavirus has created an employment crisis across the country’
Physics in the pandemic: ‘This coronavirus has created an employment crisis across the country’
Meenu Stephen, a newly qualified medical physicist, describes the difficulties of looking for and starting a new job during lockdown
Read article: Physics in the pandemic: ‘Moving the International Physicists’ Tournament online was challenging’
Physics in the pandemic: ‘Moving the International Physicists’ Tournament online was challenging’
David Collomb describes how a popular competition for physics students went virtual, with a team from Russia emerging as the overall winner
Read article: Physics in the pandemic: ‘Our physics and dosimetry facilities were vacated for COVID-19 patients’
Physics in the pandemic: ‘Our physics and dosimetry facilities were vacated for COVID-19 patients’
Priya Saini, a medical physicist at SMS Medical College and Hospitals in Jaipur, describes her efforts to maintain a radiotherapy service in the midst of a pandemic
Read article: Physics in the pandemic: ‘Our event had grown from a hub for the UK to a truly global event within a matter of days’
Physics in the pandemic: ‘Our event had grown from a hub for the UK to a truly global event within a matter of days’
Gunnar Moeller from the University of Kent in the UK describes how this year's Condensed Matter Physics in the City was turned into an online-only event
Medical physics and biophysics
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Latest articles
Read article: Arches of chaos in the solar system, luxury watch has bits of Stephen Hawking’s desk
Arches of chaos in the solar system, luxury watch has bits of Stephen Hawking’s desk
Excerpts from the Red Folder
Read article: US president-elect Joe Biden set to put science centre stage
US president-elect Joe Biden set to put science centre stage
Physicists welcome the election of Joe Biden as US president but he faces challenges to unite a divided Congress
Read article: Medicare Radiation Oncology Alternative Payment Model: what you need to know
Medicare Radiation Oncology Alternative Payment Model: what you need to know
Join the audience for a live webinar on 14 December 2020 sponsored by Accuray
Read article: ESTRO 2020 enables digital dialogue on radiation oncology
ESTRO 2020 enables digital dialogue on radiation oncology
The annual meeting of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), originally due to take place in April, is now being staged as a fully digital event
Read article: MRS combines Spring and Fall meetings into virtual event
MRS combines Spring and Fall meetings into virtual event
This year the Materials Research Society will replace its traditional Boston-based Fall Meeting with a virtual conference and exhibition
Read article: China launches sample-return mission to the Moon
China launches sample-return mission to the Moon
Chang’e-5 will attempt to bring back 2 kg of lunar material to study the evolution history of our closest neighbour
Read article: Fish save energy by swimming in schools
Fish save energy by swimming in schools
Kármán vortices shed by leading fish help followers generate thrust
Read article: Without sound and fury, signifying something: acoustics and batteries
Without sound and fury, signifying something: acoustics and batteries
Join the audience for a live webinar on 2 December 2020 sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry and Hiden Analytical, in partnership with The Electrochemical Society
Read article: ‘Hell-like’ exoplanet experiences rocky rain and supersonic wind
‘Hell-like’ exoplanet experiences rocky rain and supersonic wind
Huge temperature gradient on tidally locked exoplanet K2-141b creates complex interactions in its atmosphere
Read article: Arecibo Observatory will be decommissioned, says US National Science Foundation
Arecibo Observatory will be decommissioned, says US National Science Foundation
Astronomers and the public lament the loss of an iconic radio telescope
Read article: Gold nanotubes and infrared light could treat asbestos-related cancer
Gold nanotubes and infrared light could treat asbestos-related cancer
Gold nanotubes can enter mesothelioma cells and destroy them when heated with infrared laser light
Read article: Optical clock sets new constraints on dark matter
Optical clock sets new constraints on dark matter
Devices could be put on satellites to create Earth-sized detector
Read article: Organic photodiodes rival silicon devices
Organic photodiodes rival silicon devices
Large-area low-noise structures detect faint visible light
Read article: Focused ultrasound treatments target childhood cancers
Focused ultrasound treatments target childhood cancers
Researchers are developing a range of focused ultrasound applications to improve treatments of paediatric cancers
Read article: Terahertz laser leaves the lab
Terahertz laser leaves the lab
New design reduces electron “leakage” in quantum cascade lasers and could bring terahertz imaging into wider use
Read article: Benford’s law and the 2020 US presidential election: nothing out of the ordinary
Benford’s law and the 2020 US presidential election: nothing out of the ordinary
Data scientists queue up to explain why claims of irregular vote tallies don't hold water
Read article: Metal–organic magnets break records
Metal–organic magnets break records
Novel lightweight materials have magnetic ordering temperatures and coercivities comparable to commercially available inorganic magnets
Journal of Neural Engineering
Helping scientists, clinicians and engineers to understand, replace, repair and enhance the nervous system.
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Without sound and fury, signifying something: acoustics and batteries
Live webinar on 2 December 2020 exploring the physical principles of electrochemical acoustic interrogation
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10th International Conference on Waste Management and the Environment 2020
Society is increasingly aware of the need to establish better practices and safer solutions for waste disposal. This requires further investigation into disposal methods and recycling as well as new technologies to monitor landfills, industrial mining wastes and chemical and nuclear repositories.
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