Today's headlines
External skin patch transfers power to medical implants
A wireless power transfer system can sustainably power biomedical electronic implants, eliminating the need to surgically change batteries
Superhydrophobic surfaces toughen up
Micron-sized 'armour' protects the materials from damage
Did a black-hole merger create a flash in a distant quasar?
Second signal from a hurtling black hole expected soon
Research updates
Beetle-inspired film reflects 95% of solar radiation
Material could be used to cool cars and electronics
Near infrared fluorescence imaging provides early diagnosis of cracked teeth
Identifying cracked teeth at an early stage could help diagnose the source of toothache and prevent potential tooth loss
Why insulated metals cool down faster than their bare counterparts
Cryogenic experiments and a new thermodynamic model shed fresh light on the Leidenfrost effect
Matrix approach removes distortions in ultrasound images
Researchers in France have developed a novel approach to minimize blurring in medical ultrasound images
Nanolubricant makes household fridges more efficient
Adding multi-walled carbon nanotubes to a common refrigerant reduced the power consumption of a domestic fridge by nearly 30%
X-ray ghost imaging goes energy-selective
Spectral technique could find applications in fields such as biological and medical imaging, materials science and environmental sensing
Physics World podcasts
Explore in depth
Fighting flat-Earth theory
Rachel Brazil explores ways in which the physics community can best combat unscientific thinking, such as the belief the Earth is flat
Finding a consistent constant
Keith Cooper investigates the discrepancies in values of the Hubble constant and asks what this might mean for cosmology
The e-bike revolution
Electric bikes are all the rage, but James McKenzie wonders if the future lies with a minimalist kit that can be retrofitted to an ordinary bicycle
Cryogenics makes the European Spallation Source a hot property in neutron science
John G Weisend II explains why cryogenics is a core enabling technology at the European Spallation Source, currently under construction in Sweden
The danger of scientific meetings going online only
Harry Collins, Bill Barnes and Riccardo Sapienza warn against a wholesale shift to virtual workshops and conferences after COVID-19
Cracking the quantum code
Kate Gardner reviews the new TV show Devs
Explorer versus salesman
Ian Randall reviews Adventures of a Computational Explorer by Stephen Wolfram
Physics in the pandemic: reports on how physicists are coping with the effects of the coronavirus
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
Read article: Physics in the pandemic: ‘Returning to the lab will be hugely beneficial for me’
Physics in the pandemic: ‘Returning to the lab will be hugely beneficial for me’
As an autistic person who struggles with big, unpredictable changes, PhD student Daisy Shearer looks forward to resuming old routines – with a few caveats
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.
Video showcase
Latest articles
Read article: Next-generation plan second check QA and adaptive therapy assessment
Next-generation plan second check QA and adaptive therapy assessment
Join the audience for a live webinar on 20 August 2020 sponsored by MIM Software
Read article: Medical physicists pioneer virtual meeting
Medical physicists pioneer virtual meeting
The annual meeting of the American Association for Physicists in Medicine hopes to recreate all the benefits of a live event with a virtual conference and exhibition
Read article: David Leckrone’s scientific highlights from three decades of the Hubble Space Telescope
David Leckrone’s scientific highlights from three decades of the Hubble Space Telescope
Astrophysicist and former senior project scientist for Hubble picks his favourites
Read article: White papers: WITec, Ocean Insight and Photonic Science & Engineering
White papers: WITec, Ocean Insight and Photonic Science & Engineering
Explore the latest technology white papers from physics-based industry in instrumentation and measurement, and semiconductors
Read article: First winners of Bell Burnell fellowships announced by the Institute of Physics
First winners of Bell Burnell fellowships announced by the Institute of Physics
Four female PhD students awarded grants from fund to encourage diversity in physics
Read article: Piezoelectric feedback boosts infrared atomic force microscopy
Piezoelectric feedback boosts infrared atomic force microscopy
New technique improves nanoscale chemical imaging
Read article: Tabletop device might snare gravitational waves using tiny diamonds
Tabletop device might snare gravitational waves using tiny diamonds
New matter-wave interferometer would rely on nanoparticles, not lasers
Read article: Stiffer road surfaces could cut greenhouse-gas emissions
Stiffer road surfaces could cut greenhouse-gas emissions
Carbon nanotubes could reduce road deformation by heavy vehicles
Read article: Transabdominal oximetry offers non-invasive monitor of foetal health
Transabdominal oximetry offers non-invasive monitor of foetal health
Reimagination of the technology in a watch’s heart-rate monitor has the potential to support safer childbirth
Read article: Advanced MRI methods guide treatments of tremor
Advanced MRI methods guide treatments of tremor
Developments in MRI techniques could improve the outcomes of high-intensity focused ultrasound treatments of essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease
Read article: Quantum dots help preserve historic limestone monuments
Quantum dots help preserve historic limestone monuments
Stonework reinforcement can be monitored using fluorescence
Read article: The physics of N95 masks, imaging sensitive corals, how Fermilab’s PIP-II accelerator will work
The physics of N95 masks, imaging sensitive corals, how Fermilab’s PIP-II accelerator will work
Excerpts from the Red Folder
Read article: Light-activated catalysts make nearly perfect water-splitters
Light-activated catalysts make nearly perfect water-splitters
A new model system based on strontium titanate has an external quantum efficiency of 96% for near-ultraviolet light
Read article: From virus spikes to narwhal tusks, physicists discover universal design for stingers
From virus spikes to narwhal tusks, physicists discover universal design for stingers
Study could lead to better artificial spikes
Read article: Bipartisan bill aims to revamp National Science Foundation
Bipartisan bill aims to revamp National Science Foundation
Lawmakers are seeking to change the remit of the National Science Foundation so that it focuses more on the commercialization of research
Read article: ‘Multifaceted radiomics’ predicts cancer metastasis risk
‘Multifaceted radiomics’ predicts cancer metastasis risk
A machine-learning-based approach effectively combines images from different modalities to classify patients with head-and-neck cancer
Read article: How lasers make the difference in MRI in RT – MRI solutions from LAP
How lasers make the difference in MRI in RT – MRI solutions from LAP
Join the audience for a live webinar on 30 July 2020 sponsored by LAP GmbH Laser Applikationen
Quantum horizons
A new crop of quantum technologies is set to make waves in the commercial world. Get up to speed on what they are and what impact they will have in the future.
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Clinical results using RadCalc Monte Carlo module
Join the audience for a live webinar with LAP GmbH Laser Applikationen exploring the use of Monte Carlo algorithms for treatment plans – date to be confirmed.
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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