In this episode of Physics World Weekly we’re exploring the spaces where physics overlaps with other disciplines.
To kick things off, Tushna Commissariat is in conversation with the physicist and science communicator Paul Davies about his new book The Demon in the Machine: How Hidden Webs of Information are Solving the Mystery of Life. No stranger to tackling the big questions, Davies is seeking answers regarding the nature of life and how it can emerge from the inanimate. Drawing on his work at the Beyond Center at Arizona State University in the US, Davies attempts to unite such seemingly disparate fields as nanotechnology, quantum mechanics and molecular biology.
Then in the second part of the podcast, we begin by discussing the release this week of two comprehensive online catalogues of so-called “topological materials”. The work demonstrates that these exotic states of matter – the theme of the 2016 Nobel Prize for Physics – are actually far more common than previously thought. These new online systems for organizing and predicting topological materials could help researchers to develop applications such as low-power devices and quantum computing.
As always, we bring you a round-up of some of the other research news highlights from the website this week. If you enjoy what you hear, you can subscribe to Physics World Weekly via the Apple podcast app or your chosen podcast host.
