Today's headlines
Cycloidal CT boosts image quality while reducing radiation dose
A CT technique that splits a full X-ray beam into thin beamlets can deliver the same image quality at a reduced radiation dose
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
Research updates
Quantum dots track two-dimensional diffusion in cells
Experiments shed light on the processes that transport molecules around the intracellular fluid
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
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
Solar flares are predicted by new model
“κ-scheme” could help give early warning of destructive solar storms
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
Superconductivity theory comes a step closer
New model attempts to mimic electron behaviour in overdoped cuprates
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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
Ask me anything: Sabine Hossenfelder
The science writer and theoretical physicist gives her advice to physics graduates
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
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Latest articles
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 28 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: A map of quantum physics, sound of a wave-function collapse, famous physicists as dogs
A map of quantum physics, sound of a wave-function collapse, famous physicists as dogs
Excerpts from the Red Folder
Read article: Autonomous discovery of battery electrolytes with robotic experimentation and machine learning
Autonomous discovery of battery electrolytes with robotic experimentation and machine learning
Join the audience for a live webinar on 12 August 2020 sponsored by The Electrochemical Society in partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry
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
Read article: 3D microscopy reveals how human sperm swim
3D microscopy reveals how human sperm swim
Researchers find that sperm swim in corkscrew motions to compensate for the asymmetry in their tails
Read article: ‘Quantum go machine’ plays ancient board game using entangled photons
‘Quantum go machine’ plays ancient board game using entangled photons
Stones in quantum superpositions could put artificial intelligence to the test
Read article: A fluttering nebula, Twitter poster session winners, physics of insulated cups, pondering spin
A fluttering nebula, Twitter poster session winners, physics of insulated cups, pondering spin
Excerpts from the Red Folder
Read article: Test your knowledge of medical physics in this trivia quiz
Test your knowledge of medical physics in this trivia quiz
So you think you know all about medical physics trivia? Test yourself with this fun quiz – answers next week
Read article: NASA launches Mars Perseverance rover
NASA launches Mars Perseverance rover
Mission will explore the Martian geology and climate, look for signs of past microbial life as well as launch a small helicopter
Read article: Did a supernova trigger the late Devonian extinction?
Did a supernova trigger the late Devonian extinction?
Isotopic evidence could be lurking in the fossil record
Read article: Web-based tool estimates foetal radiation dose from CT scans
Web-based tool estimates foetal radiation dose from CT scans
A user-friendly web-based tool calculates the radiation dose absorbed by the foetus when a pregnant woman undergoes a CT exam
Read article: Liquid metal flows smoothly at room temperatures
Liquid metal flows smoothly at room temperatures
Applied voltage and oxide "skin" overcome droplet-forming tendencies driven by high surface tension
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Celebrating the 500th book published
Life with Hubble, by David Leckrone
A retelling of human stories, achievements and legacy of the Hubble mission.
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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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