Pick of the Week
Why a physics degree is so valuable in today’s uncertain job market
Sophia Chen analyses the challenges and opportunities facing today's graduates entering the job market
‘Relief’ as industrial megaproject in Chile that threatened world’s darkest skies is cancelled
The green hydrogen and ammonia project would have increased light pollution at ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert
Research updates
Earthquake-sensing network detects space debris as it falls to Earth
Proof-of-principle experiment resolved the shock waves produced by the Shenzhou-15 module when it re-entered the atmosphere
Dual-tracer PET enables biologically individualized radiotherapy
Tailoring radiotherapy dose distributions to PET images of cancer biology could enhance tumour control and improve patient outcomes
Entanglement reveals the difficulty of computational problems
Efficiency and hardness of a computation problem are revealed
Samples from the far side of the Moon shed light on lunar asymmetry
Unusual isotopic ratio in samples brought back by Chang'e-6 reveals clues about the early history of Earth's satellite
Unusual astronomical event might be a ‘superkilonova’
Merger of two neutron stars in the aftermath of a supernova may have been observed for the first time, though questions remain
Pockets and pillars capture ricocheting molecules in vacuum pump
Passive system could give quantum sensors a boost
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The Future Circular Collider is unduly risky – CERN needs a ‘Plan B’
Michael Riordan calls on CERN to face financial and geopolitical reality
Is our embrace of AI naïve and could it lead to an environmental disaster?
Johan Hansson says it is dangerous to treat artificial intelligence as a magic wand
Physics World podcasts
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Explore our two regular podcast series! Physics World Weekly looks at the latest events and headlines in physics, as well as featuring short interviews with scientists and our team of journalists. Physics World Stories takes a more in-depth look at a topic.
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Winners of International Quantum Year science-journalism competition picked
Read article: Winners of International Quantum Year science-journalism competition picked
CERN upgrade to LHCb experiment threatened by UK funding cuts
Upgrade to the UK-led project is unlikely to go ahead if UK funding cuts are not reversed
Read article: CERN upgrade to LHCb experiment threatened by UK funding cuts
Metasurfaces create super-sized neutral atom arrays for quantum computing
Technique lays the groundwork for neutral-atom quantum computers with more than 100,000 qubits, say physicists
Read article: Metasurfaces create super-sized neutral atom arrays for quantum computing
The 10th annual Physics World Careers guide showcases job options for physicists
Boost your career by checking out the free-to-read 96-page digital guide
Read article: The 10th annual Physics World Careers guide showcases job options for physicists
Joined-up thinking in quantum metrology: why collaboration is the secret of success
NPL has joined forces with other leading National Metrology Institutes to shape the international standards effort in quantum technologies
Read article: Joined-up thinking in quantum metrology: why collaboration is the secret of success
Schrödinger cat state sets new size record
Clusters containing thousands of metal atoms obey the laws of quantum mechanics, say physicists
Read article: Schrödinger cat state sets new size record
Using AI boosts scientific productivity and career prospects, finds study
Yet the work shows that using AI can lead to a shrinking of research focus
Read article: Using AI boosts scientific productivity and career prospects, finds study
Interactions between dark matter and neutrinos could resolve a cosmic discrepancy
Finding challenges the standard model of cosmology
Read article: Interactions between dark matter and neutrinos could resolve a cosmic discrepancy
Implanted electrodes provide intuitive control of prosthetic hand
Signals recorded by implanted electrodes enable accurate prosthetic control of hand and wrist movements under real-world conditions
Read article: Implanted electrodes provide intuitive control of prosthetic hand
New cosmic map will put dark-matter theories to the test
COSMOS-Web uses JWST’s enhanced imaging capabilities
Read article: New cosmic map will put dark-matter theories to the test
Top-cited authors from India and North America share their tips for early-career researchers
Pointers on how to boost the impact of your work
Read article: Top-cited authors from India and North America share their tips for early-career researchers
Twenty-three nominations, yet no Nobel prize: how Chien-Shiung Wu missed out on the top award in physics
Mats Larsson and Ramon Wyss reveal why Chien-Shiung Wu never won a Nobel prize
Read article: Twenty-three nominations, yet no Nobel prize: how Chien-Shiung Wu missed out on the top award in physics
Physics World Jobs offers a range of opportunities for jobseekers with a background in physics or engineering. At all stages of your career, we can help find the job for you
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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Reversible degradation phenomenon in PEMWE cells
Join the audience for a live webinar at 6 p.m. GMT/1 p.m. EST on 4 February 2026
Sponsored by The Electrochemical Society, Hiden Analytical, Scribner Associates, Gamry Instruments
Investigate how voltage dips below 1.5 V trigger reversible PEMWE performance gains, driven by iridium oxidation dynamics and reaction kinetics
Stay up to date with the latest international conferences, symposia and exhibitions for interdisciplinary scientists working across academic research and industry
Food Physics 2026
4—5 February 2026 | Leeds, UK
Physics plays a crucial role in the design of delicious, healthy, and nutritious food and beverages. This annual conference, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2026, brings together academics and industry professionals to share the latest developments and explore opportunities for physicists to tackle multidisciplinary challenges. These challenges range from sustainability to food manufacturing and the design of multiphase microstructures.
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