Physics World Weekender
Urban cool: how to make cities less hot than their surroundings
Summer in the city can be stifling, but appropriate surfaces and vegetation can cool us off, says Roland Ennos
An evening of landscape astrophotography
Colin White recounts a trip that took him from a Somerset hilltop to the heart of the Milky Way
Research updates
Tiny laser delivers high-quality, narrowband light for metrology
Laser diode device enables rapid measurement
Short-lived eclipsing binary pulsar spotted in Milky Way
Rare sighting could allow astronomers to test theories of binary star systems
Handheld device captures airborne signs of disease
Portable biomarker detector could also be used in non-contact diagnostics
Worm slime could inspire recyclable polymer design
Previously unknown protein-based feature in slime allows it to transform from liquid to fibre and back again
Sound waves control droplet movement in microfluidic processor
Device could be transformative in biology, chemistry and lab-on-a-chip applications
Generative AI speeds medical image analysis without impacting accuracy
The first generative AI tool to be integrated into a clinical workflow eases the creation of radiography reports
Physics World Quantum Briefing
Take a look at our free-to-read digital issue of Physics World Quantum Briefing, which commemorates the centenary of quantum mechanics and celebrates the 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology with a selection of articles on the history, mystery and industry of quantum mechanics.
Physics World podcasts
The latest opinion and reviews
‘The Trump uncertainty principle’ is destroying the position and momentum of US science
The Trump administration is ripping US science apart, warns Robert P Crease
People benefit from medicine, but machines need healthcare too
Honor Powrie explores the parallels between monitoring the health of machines and humans
Physics World podcast
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.
Read more of our latest articles
Read article: Simulation of capsule implosions during laser fusion wins Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion Outstanding Paper Prize
Simulation of capsule implosions during laser fusion wins Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion Outstanding Paper Prize
The work is an important step to understanding the physics at the heart of inertial confinement fusion
Read article: Laser World of Photonics showcases cutting-edge optical innovation
Laser World of Photonics showcases cutting-edge optical innovation
Attendees at this year’s Laser World of Photonics trade show can discover the latest trends in photonics technology, attend workshops and technical presentations, and interact with industry professionals
Read article: Astronomers capture spectacular ‘thousand colour’ image of the Sculptor Galaxy
Astronomers capture spectacular ‘thousand colour’ image of the Sculptor Galaxy
The image revealed around 500 planetary nebulae that can be used as distance markers to their host galaxies
Read article: US astronomy facing ‘extinction level’ event following Trump’s 2026 budget request
US astronomy facing ‘extinction level’ event following Trump’s 2026 budget request
US president Trump sets out his budget request for 2026, which if passed, will see science hit like never before, as Peter Gwynne reports
Read article: How quantum sensors could improve human health and wellbeing
How quantum sensors could improve human health and wellbeing
Matt Jones explores the opportunities that quantum physics offers for the healthcare sector
Read article: ‘Can’t get you out of my head’: using earworms to teach physics
‘Can’t get you out of my head’: using earworms to teach physics
Physics teacher Kate Urell uses catchy tunes to help her students remember their lessons
Read article: Yale researcher says levitated spheres could spot neutrinos ‘within months’
Yale researcher says levitated spheres could spot neutrinos ‘within months’
David Moore claims his table-top set-up is on the cusp of detecting ghostly particles, reports Matin Durrani
Read article: Helgoland researchers seek microplastics and microfibres in the sea
Helgoland researchers seek microplastics and microfibres in the sea
Matin Durrani takes a tour of the Biological Institute Helgoland
Read article: Quantum island: why Helgoland is a great spot for fundamental thinking
Quantum island: why Helgoland is a great spot for fundamental thinking
Matin Durrani explains why delegates at Helgoland 2025 are discussing foundational questions in quantum mechanics
Read article: Quartet of Nobel laureates sign Helgoland’s ‘gold book’
Quartet of Nobel laureates sign Helgoland’s ‘gold book’
Matin Durrani explains the unexpected message left by Anton Zeilinger
Read article: Conference marking 100 years of quantum mechanics starts in Hamburg
Conference marking 100 years of quantum mechanics starts in Hamburg
Matin Durrani reports from the first day of the Helgoland 2025 meeting
Read article: Designer van der Waals materials for quantum optical emission
Designer van der Waals materials for quantum optical emission
Join the audience for a live webinar at 4 p.m. BST/5 p.m CEST on 9 July 2025, sponsored by PicoQuant
Read article: Beyond the classroom: a high-school student’s week at the Institute of Physics
Beyond the classroom: a high-school student’s week at the Institute of Physics
A-level student Naeya Mistry talks about her week of work experience at the Institute of Physics
Read article: There’s an elephant in the room at the Royal Society – and for once, it’s not (just) Elon Musk
There’s an elephant in the room at the Royal Society – and for once, it’s not (just) Elon Musk
A conference on the future of the UK space sector makes stunningly little mention of how proposed cuts to NASA funding might affect it
Read article: Quantum physics guides proton motion in biological systems
Quantum physics guides proton motion in biological systems
A central mechanism behind information transfer in living cells depends on the transfer of electrons with a specific spin
Read article: Development and application of a 3-electrode setup for the operando detection of side reactions in Li-Ion batteries
Development and application of a 3-electrode setup for the operando detection of side reactions in Li-Ion batteries
6 August 2025: Discover an easy to implement cell setup that enables the quantitative and qualitative analysis of parasitic side reactions in lithium-ion batteries
Read article: Japan’s ispace suffers second lunar landing failure
Japan’s ispace suffers second lunar landing failure
ispace was attempting to become the first non-US firm to land on the Moon
Read article: Superconducting innovation: SQMS shapes up for scalable success in quantum computing
Superconducting innovation: SQMS shapes up for scalable success in quantum computing
Fermilab’s SQMS Center is on a mission to realize inherently scalable “qudit-based” quantum computing and quantum communication systems
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
Tune into online presentations that allow expert speakers to explain novel tools and applications
Start-stop operation and the degradation impact in electrolysis
26 February 2025
Join this webinar by The Electrochemical Society to explore the impact of intermittent operation on electrolyzer degradation
Stay up to date with the latest international conferences, symposia and exhibitions for interdisciplinary scientists working across academic research and industry
Flat Bands, Strong Correlations, and Heavy Fermions
31 March — 4 April 2025 | Dresden, Germany
This one-week workshop will bring together the communities interested in flat bands of moiré structures and frustrated-lattice materials on the one hand, and strongly correlated electron systems anchored by f-electron materials on the other, with Kondo physics serving as an intellectual link.
Copyright © 2025 by IOP Publishing Ltd and individual contributors