Editor's choice
Gluon string breaking is simulated using trapped ions
Quantum simulation goes beyond traditional models
Sound waves come in quantum jumps
First observation of fundamental quantization in mechanical vibrations could have applications in quantum error correction and protein diagnostics
Research updates
Nuclear clocks finally see the light
New timekeeping tools could revolutionize studies of fundamental physics
Collisions between dipolar molecules ‘switch off’ at low energies
Discovery validates quantum picture of polarity and has implications for ultracold chemistry
Titanium-polymer metamaterial floats in water
Hybrid open-cell material shows promise for marine infrastructure
Exciton wavefunctions come into view
New work could lead to improvements in organic photovoltaics
Radiotherapy trials shape future treatments of brain metastases
Studies presented at the ASTRO 2026 meeting provide new evidence that could help inform radiation treatments of patients with brain metastases
Scientists explain how a 300 TeV photon could reach Earth
A mysterious signal from a powerful gamma-ray burst may reveal how exotic particles and altered physics could let extreme radiation cross the universe
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The latest opinion and reviews
Demon in the AI machine: bias, bad data and the burden of proof
Andrew Glester reviews the film Mercy, directed by Timur Bekmambetov
The secret world of tribology
Honor Powrie pays tribute to the work of tribologists
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One sample, many dimensions: prospects for multimodal nanoscale characterization
Join the audience for a live webinar at 2 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. CET on 12 November 2026
Explore how precise sample manipulation enables complementary nanoscale techniques to work toge...
Read article: One sample, many dimensions: prospects for multimodal nanoscale characterization
Word flower puzzle no. 9
How many words can you find in this puzzle?
Read article: Word flower puzzle no. 9
Engineering the unknown: building vacuum and cryogenic systems for the quantum frontier
Qubit decoherence remains the primary barrier to many practical quantum devices. This is why vacuum and cryogenic equipment scaling are key enablers to delivering useful quantum pr...
Read article: Engineering the unknown: building vacuum and cryogenic systems for the quantum frontier
Why supporting international colleagues is everyone’s responsibility
International researchers can face many challenges when trying to settle in another country
Read article: Why supporting international colleagues is everyone’s responsibility
Ask me anything: Tania Kendrick – ‘There’s something really satisfying when everything starts to click’
Tania Kendrick is a civil servant in the UK’s Cabinet Office
Read article: Ask me anything: Tania Kendrick – ‘There’s something really satisfying when everything starts to click’
Scottish artist marks 100 years of Schrödinger equation with new installation
Work will go on display at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow
Read article: Scottish artist marks 100 years of Schrödinger equation with new installation
Quiz of the week: which star could help astronomers measure the spin of Sagittarius A*?
Have you been keeping up to date with physics news? Try our short quiz to find out
Read article: Quiz of the week: which star could help astronomers measure the spin of Sagittarius A*?
Physics and wildlife conservation: a slide puzzle
Can you reconstruct the wildlife photo in our interactive slide puzzle?
Read article: Physics and wildlife conservation: a slide puzzle
Particle physicist Hideki Yukawa: Japan’s first Nobel laureate
Yukawa laid the foundation for an active post-war generation of particle physicists in Japan
Read article: Particle physicist Hideki Yukawa: Japan’s first Nobel laureate
Quiz of the week: how are researchers making weather predictions more accurate?
Have you been keeping up to date with physics news? Try our short quiz to find out
Read article: Quiz of the week: how are researchers making weather predictions more accurate?
Abdus Salam: Pakistan’s first (and so far only) physics Nobel prize-winner
Matin Durrani looks at the work of Abdus Salam, who was born a century ago this year
Read article: Abdus Salam: Pakistan’s first (and so far only) physics Nobel prize-winner
Word wave puzzle no.9
Can you work out the word in this puzzle, which relates to a recent Physics World article?
Read article: Word wave puzzle no.9
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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
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Changes in structure and ionic resistance of lithium-ion battery graphite electrodes
Join the audience for a live webinar at 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. EDT on 5 August 2026
For modellers and experimentalists: discover how SEI formation and graphite expansion define Li‑ion transport in electrodes
Sponsored by The Electrochemical Society, BioLogic, Hiden Analytical
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Innovations in Applied Mechanics 2026
23—26 September 2026 | London, UK
Innovations in Applied Mechanics brings together two previous, highly successful conferences MPSVA – Modern Practice in Stress and Vibration Analysis and DAMAS – International Conference on Damage Assessment in Structures to present research findings in stress analysis, vibration dynamics and structural damage assessment with the intention of providing directed focus on the state-of-the-art in theoretical and experimental methodology.
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