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Does the Bullet Cluster contain a lot less dark matter than we thought?

Measuring the invisible: how internal dosimetry shapes radiation protection

Assessing the impact of radiation exposure is crucial for protecting the health of workers, but limited data, imperfect models and variations in methodology demands expert judgement to interpret the results

Safety first: Internal Dosimetry is the practice of estimating intakes and risk from occupational exposures to radioactive materials (Credit: iStock/??)

Physics and the green economy: a slide puzzle

Can you reconstruct this green energy image in our interactive slide puzzle?

Research updates

Machine vision begins to work like the human eye

Antineutrino detectors could spot signs that a fusion reactor is producing weapons-grade plutonium

Diagram of a tokamak fusion reactor emitting electron antineutrinos. A box outside the reactor represents a detector, and two people are shown for scale (they are much smaller than the reactor and a little bigger than the detector). The whole diagram is drawn in shades of grey and black.

AI-enhanced rare-event sampling helps predict extreme weather

‘Back to the future’ messages are more efficient

Closed time-like curves allow greater information capacity when sending messages backwards in time

New superconducting diode gives greater control over the flow of electrons

Device based on two-dimensional oxide interface superconductors can be “edited” using atomic force microscope lithography

Wearable pacemaker uses ultrasound to control heart rhythm

Integrating sonogenetics with ultrasound technology, non-invasive pacemaker is designed to manage cardiac rhythm disorders

Undersea optical fibres detect the motion of silent whales

Distributed acoustic sensing could provide a new tool for tracking whales around the world, even when they aren't vocalizing

Mouldable glass screen could make mammograms clearer and much more comfortable

New device produces higher-resolution X-ray images using a much lower dose of radiation

Affordable AI-powered endomicroscope lines up for early cancer detection

Handheld imaging device combines advanced optics with deep learning to enable early detection of epithelial cancers

Jobs hub

Access the latest physics careers advice

Latest news

National Science Foundation’s X-Labs initiative draws fire as ‘terrible idea’

Vera C Rubin Observatory kicks off 10-year quest to map the cosmos

CERN says Large Hadron Collider has ‘exceeded every expectation’ as it shuts down ahead of major upgrade

The latest opinion and reviews

Evidence in action: how science helps us make better decisions

Two medical wearing scrubs either side of an incubator with two premature babies inside

Want to spot a winning technology? Here’s the key skill you need

Ian Taylor looks at the value of estimation in the business world

A pair of male hands surrounding a crystal ball

Meet the demons: four mythical creatures that inhabit science

Scientists can learn a lot from diabolical creatures, Robert P Crease reveals

Physics World podcasts

Beyond the data: art meets climate at the edge of the world

Artist Tom Bailey trekking in the Arctic with reindeer antlers

Independent linac commissioning matters for radiotherapy

Ken’ichi Nomoto and Stanford Woosley share the 2026 Shaw Prize in Astronomy

Photos of Ken’ichi Nomoto and Stanford Woosley

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.

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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�...

Quiz of the week: what are researchers using to detect the motion of silent whales?

Have you been keeping up to date with physics news? Try our short quiz to find out

From ideas to industry: a theoretical physicist’s journey into Silicon Valley

From a classroom science demonstration to using quantum optics to improve the energy efficiency of deep learning – Ryan Hamerly on his career path

Quantum
Analysis
SPONSORED

UTC Quantum Center: collaboration turns quantum discovery into quantum impact

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga signals its quantum ambitions

Quiz of the week: how do scientists hope to protect Earth from dangerous solar storms?

Have you been keeping up to date with physics news? Try our short quiz to find out

A schematic of how solar storms affect Earth

Mass spectrometry delivers fusion insights

A quadrupole mass analyser designed for fusion research combines radiation hardness with the ability to distinguish between the light atomic species involved in the nuclear reactio...

nuclear fusion reactor tokamak concept background, 3d rendering

New model of ocean waves sheds fresh light on the spread of microplastic pollution

Waves that decay over time can transport particles vertically as well as horizontally

Physics World’s Margaret Harris honoured for ‘Feature of the Year’

Exploration of quirky Nobel prizes bags ABSW award

‘Superallowed’ alpha decay seen for the first time

Observations could help us better understand how alpha particles form inside atomic nuclei

Can we create a shield to protect Earth from solar storms?

A space-based system could help deflect potentially catastrophic interplanetary weather

A demon of a puzzle: interactive cryptic crossword

Try this thermodynamics-themed cryptic crossword, republished in interactive form

Encapsulation enhances surface structure imaging of 2D quantum material

New technique allows researchers to probe the top layer of an atomically thin topological quantum material for the first time

Featured employer

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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Featured webinar

Tune into online presentations that allow expert speakers to explain novel tools and applications

From bunkers to bright spaces: the future of smart shielded radiosurgery treatment rooms

Join the audience for a live webinar at 4 p.m. GMT/5 p.m. CET on 31 March 2026

Discover how smart shielding enables bright, modern radiosurgery rooms beyond traditional bunker designs

Sponsored by Elekta

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Featured event

Stay up to date with the latest international conferences, symposia and exhibitions for interdisciplinary scientists working across academic research and industry

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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