Today's headlines
New optical connections for trapped ions could lead to better quantum computers
Two independent teams take important step towards scalability
On the road less travelled: a Black physicist’s journey in academia
For Brooke Russell, a constructive, mentoring environment was crucial to her development as a physicist – and it’s essential for attracting new talent into the field
Uncrushable beetle reveals its strengths to scientists
Sutures inspired by the diabolical ironclad beetle used to make aircraft parts
Research updates
Conductive hydrogel could repair damaged peripheral nerves
A stretchable and conductive hydrogel could be used to treat serious injuries to peripheral nerves
‘Quintuple point’ material defies 150-year-old thermodynamics rule
Simulated colloid-polymer mixture exists in five different phases at once, rather than the three allowed under the Gibbs phase rule
Rippling graphene harvests thermal energy
New technology could deliver “clean, limitless, low-voltage power for small devices”
Supercooled water is stable in two different forms
New measurements show that extremely cold water has both a high-density and a low-density phase
In vivo dosimetry should play a pivotal role in radiation therapy
In vivo dosimetry can detect treatment errors and ensure the accurate and safe delivery of radiotherapy, so why is it not used more in the clinic?
Optical receiver for space communications has ‘unprecedented’ sensitivity
New technology could benefit space missions and LIDAR
Physics World podcasts
Explore in depth
Optical microscopy – how small can it go?
Anna Demming reports on techniques that get around the diffraction limit
Why knocking down Brookhaven’s iconic smokestack is a monumental mistake
Robert P Crease laments the disappearance of a landmark in US science history
Look Up examines the age of cosmic exploration
Tushna Commissariat reviews Look Up: Our Story with the Stars by Sarah Cruddas
Air-breathing rocket engines: the future of space flight
UK firm Reaction Engines hopes to revolutionize space access with a new class of propulsion system for reusable vehicles, as Oliver Nailard explains
Why physics-based firms benefit from green-strings-attached economic-recovery measures
James McKenzie applauds physics-based firms that are helping the environment
New auxetic material stretches the limits
Helen Gleeson describes a new auxetic material that gets thicker when stretched due to changes at the molecular level
Path of least resistance
Careers don't always play out as planned, but unconventional pathways can also lead to success
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
Find the information you need from IOP Publishing’s world-leading medical physics and biophysics journals and books, dedicated to supporting and improving research across the field, from fundamental science through to novel applications and facilities.
Latest articles
Read article: Patient QA: prioritizing accuracy, efficiency and throughput in the SRS/SBRT workflow
Patient QA: prioritizing accuracy, efficiency and throughput in the SRS/SBRT workflow
Developed specifically for verification of stereotactic treatment plans, IBA Dosimetry’s latest innovation in patient quality assurance (QA) combines film-class measurement resol...
Read article: Don’t go boiling mad when you discover these scientific secrets to perfect pasta!
Don’t go boiling mad when you discover these scientific secrets to perfect pasta!
On World Pasta Day, find out how to prepare perfect pasta while saving on fuel
Read article: Payload competition on a SpaceX Falcon 9, chicken nugget and 4G network also head into space
Payload competition on a SpaceX Falcon 9, chicken nugget and 4G network also head into space
Excerpts from the Red Folder
Read article: ASTRO Annual Meeting highlights radiation oncology innovation
ASTRO Annual Meeting highlights radiation oncology innovation
The 2020 annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology showcases the latest products and services in a virtual exhibit hall
Read article: White papers: RaySearch Laboratories highlights advances in radiation oncology software
White papers: RaySearch Laboratories highlights advances in radiation oncology software
Explore the latest white papers and case studies from oncology software specialist RaySearch Laboratories
Read article: Molecular shapeshifter: material that gets thicker when stretched
Molecular shapeshifter: material that gets thicker when stretched
Liquid-crystal elastomer that undergoes molecular transformation under stress
Read article: Elekta offers ongoing innovation in precision radiation medicine
Elekta offers ongoing innovation in precision radiation medicine
The last 12 months has seen radiation medicine specialist Elekta unveil a host of new radiotherapy products
Read article: Flipping the switch: how a hybrid journal went open access
Flipping the switch: how a hybrid journal went open access
The lessons learned from switching the hybrid journal Materials Research Express to being fully open access
Read article: Data-driven oncology: machine learning and RayIntelligence
Data-driven oncology: machine learning and RayIntelligence
Join the audience for a live webinar on 3 November 2020 sponsored by RaySearch Laboratories
Read article: Raman microscopy: when chemicals become images
Raman microscopy: when chemicals become images
Join the audience for a live webinar on 10 November 2020 sponsored by HORIBA Scientific
Read article: Astronomers propose telescope to monitor Betelgeuse dimming
Astronomers propose telescope to monitor Betelgeuse dimming
The Betelgeuse Scope concept would use twelve off-the-shelf 10 cm-aperture telescopes to provide detailed, nightly observations of the supergiant star
Read article: Accretion, not colliding spaghetti, flares up as star is devoured by black hole
Accretion, not colliding spaghetti, flares up as star is devoured by black hole
Outflow at 10,000 km/s created extremely bright flare
Read article: Software tool for MRI predicts motor development disorders in preterm babies
Software tool for MRI predicts motor development disorders in preterm babies
Biomarker can identify risks such as cerebral palsy
Read article: Sodium nanofluid helps extract heavy oil
Sodium nanofluid helps extract heavy oil
New technique shows high efficiency in laboratory tests and could reduce the use of fossil fuels in oil extraction
Read article: Very high-energy electrons could treat tumours deep within the body
Very high-energy electrons could treat tumours deep within the body
Radiotherapy using beams of very high-energy electrons could treat large, deep-seated tumours while sparing healthy tissue
Read article: Excitement grows over mysterious signal in dark-matter detector
Excitement grows over mysterious signal in dark-matter detector
Theorists publish five explanations for puzzling excess electron recoils in XENON1T
Read article: Quantum spin liquid candidate becomes a superconductor under pressure
Quantum spin liquid candidate becomes a superconductor under pressure
Sodium ytterbium (III) selenide could become a new platform for studies of high-temperature superconductivity
Medical Imaging Briefing
Take a look inside our latest free-to-read medical imaging briefing. Covering the latest research updates, features and products, this issue is a must-read for those working in medical physics.
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ELI Beamlines
Be part of the mission to create the world's most intense laser system and offer unique sources of radiation and particle beams
Tune into online presentations that allow expert speakers to explain novel tools and applications
Proton-coupled electron transfer in electrochemistry
Join the audience for a live webinar on 28 October 2020 exploring the theoretical studies of molecular and heterogeneous electrocatalysis
Stay up to date with the latest international conferences, symposia and exhibitions for interdisciplinary scientists working across academic research and industry
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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