Today's headlines
First ‘open flavour’ tetraquark is spotted by LHCb at CERN
Exotic hadron does not have charm or beauty quark-antiquark pairs
Sidestepping the side effects of neurostimulation
Identifying the mechanism behind treatment-limiting side effects should improve the effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation
Light waves steer electron beams thanks to whispering gallery effect
Coupling electrons to optical resonators could lead to novel technologies for nanoscale sensing and microscopy
Research updates
Ferroelectric nematic appears in a liquid crystal
First observation of an elusive phase of matter made after a century of searching
Thin-film solar cells make champion harvesters of ambient light
Cadmium telluride photovoltaics could power Internet of Things devices
Magnetic topological insulators change phase under pressure
Scientists develop a simple way of tuning the crystal structure and electronic properties of these layered materials
‘Cartwheeling’ light reveals new type of polarized light-matter interaction
Unusual properties of so-called "trochoidal" light waves could lead to new spectroscopic tools
Bending hairs and compliant microstructures make razor blades dull
Electron microscope study reveals how soft materials damage hardened steel
Quantum dots track two-dimensional diffusion in cells
Experiments shed light on the processes that transport molecules around the intracellular fluid
Physics World podcasts
Explore in depth
Putting new physics on the syllabus
Niki Bell calls on physicists to insist that exam boards integrate modern discoveries into the education system
Charging ahead
With electric cars set to enter the mainstream, Susan Curtis investigates the new charging solutions that will be needed
Artificial stupidity
Margaret Harris reviews You Look Like a Thing and I Love You by Janelle Shane
NASCAR: the science of racing safely
Diandra Leslie-Pelecky explores the science behind some of the features in NASCAR that are designed to keep the drivers safe
Physics in China attempts to rise from the pandemic
Physicists in China are beginning to return to the lab following the COVID-19 pandemic, but many of their projects face delays, as Ling Xin reports
Affordable medical physics technologies tackle global health disparities
A dedicated symposium at the Joint AAPM|COMP Virtual Meeting examined a range of novel low-cost healthcare systems
COVID-19: an economic perspective
J Doyne Farmer on the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the prospects of financial recovery
Physics in the pandemic: reports on how physicists are coping with the effects of the coronavirus
Read article: Physics in the pandemic: ‘There are some great experiments that can be done safely and simply at home’
Physics in the pandemic: ‘There are some great experiments that can be done safely and simply at home’
Stefan Hutzler and Denis Weaire describe some of the fun but thought-provoking experiments you can do at home using simple equipment
Read article: Physics in the pandemic: ‘Surviving the virus really aligns your perspective’
Physics in the pandemic: ‘Surviving the virus really aligns your perspective’
For astronomer Karina Voggel, COVID-19 meant lost observing time, cancelled conferences and squeezing round a kitchen table to work. Then she got sick
Read article: Physics in the pandemic: mailing lab kits to students enhances learning at home
Physics in the pandemic: mailing lab kits to students enhances learning at home
The “At-Home Lab Kit” allows undergraduate students to do physics experiments while sheltering in place
Read article: Physics in the pandemic: ‘Our habit of combining theory and experiments was an advantage for the lockdown’
Physics in the pandemic: ‘Our habit of combining theory and experiments was an advantage for the lockdown’
With restrictions easing in France, experimental physicist Tiphaine Kouadou and theorist Mattia Walschaers discuss their group's new safety measures
Medical physics and biophysics
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Latest articles
Read article: End-to-end motion QA in radiation therapy treatment planning
End-to-end motion QA in radiation therapy treatment planning
Join the audience for a live webinar on 10 September 2020 sponsored by Modus QA
Read article: White papers: Mad City Labs and SAES Group
White papers: Mad City Labs and SAES Group
Explore the latest technology white papers from physics-based industry in instrumentation and measurement
Read article: Agilent vacuum technology: trusted answers
Agilent vacuum technology: trusted answers
Products and practical advice for reaching ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) pressures
Read article: Maximizing QA accuracy and efficiency with RadCalc in a challenging environment
Maximizing QA accuracy and efficiency with RadCalc in a challenging environment
Join the audience for a live webinar on 23 September 2020 sponsored by LAP GmbH Laser Applikationen
Read article: Simple, routine QA enhances contrast-enhanced mammography
Simple, routine QA enhances contrast-enhanced mammography
Quality-assurance specialist CIRS has teamed up with GE Healthcare to commercialize an easy-to-use breast-equivalent phantom for contrast-enhanced spectral mammography
Read article: Portable sensor detects biomagnetic signals in noisy outdoor environments
Portable sensor detects biomagnetic signals in noisy outdoor environments
A prototype portable sensor can detect tiny magnetic fields generated by the human brain and heart without the need for expensive magnetic shielding
Read article: Experiments pin down conditions that make hot water freeze before cold
Experiments pin down conditions that make hot water freeze before cold
Simplified experimental model makes it possible to engineer the Mpemba effect in a reproducible way
Read article: Autonomous discovery of battery electrolytes with robotic experimentation and machine learning
Autonomous discovery of battery electrolytes with robotic experimentation and machine learning
Available to watch now, The Electrochemical Society in partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry on the discovery of a novel battery electrolyte that was guided by machine-l...
Read article: Solar flares are predicted by new model
Solar flares are predicted by new model
“κ-scheme” could help give early warning of destructive solar storms
Read article: Novel X-ray technology depicts real-time airflow through the lungs
Novel X-ray technology depicts real-time airflow through the lungs
World-first lung-function measurement tool offers a breath of fresh air for the diagnosis and treatment of cystic fibrosis and other respiratory diseases
Read article: Superconductivity theory comes a step closer
Superconductivity theory comes a step closer
New model attempts to mimic electron behaviour in overdoped cuprates
Read article: Colliding star may have switched-off black hole’s X-ray corona
Colliding star may have switched-off black hole’s X-ray corona
Galactic centre dimmed rapidly over less than two months
Read article: Acoustic tweezers move objects in the body remotely
Acoustic tweezers move objects in the body remotely
A shaped ultrasound beam transmitted through the skin can move objects within a living body, offering a new way to treat kidney stones
Read article: Physics and cars: an evolving journey
Physics and cars: an evolving journey
Physics-based technologies play an increasingly diverse role in car design
Read article: COVID-19 pandemic has made weather forecasts less reliable
COVID-19 pandemic has made weather forecasts less reliable
Dearth of commercial flights means fewer meteorological observations
Read article: Physics and cars: the August 2020 issue of Physics World is now out
Physics and cars: the August 2020 issue of Physics World is now out
Find out about NASCAR safety, electric vehicles, hacking cars and ultrasonics in the latest edition of your favourite physics magazine
Read article: Isotope ratios yield clues to element synthesis
Isotope ratios yield clues to element synthesis
Measurements could help identify the origin of meteorite grains that formed before our solar system and improve models of nova explosions
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Autonomous discovery of battery electrolytes with robotic experimentation and machine learning
Join the audience for a live webinar with The Electrochemical Society in partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry on the discovery of a novel battery electrolyte that was guided by machine-learning software without human intervention.
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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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