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Read article: Quantum gravity presents the ultimate challenge to theorists

Quantum gravity presents the ultimate challenge to theorists

Physics in the 20th century is founded on the twin pillars of quantum mechanics and the theory of relativity. However, in spite of the enormous successes of each theory individually, the two appear to be incompatible. This embarrassing contradiction at the very heart of theoretical physics remains one of the great outstanding challenges in science. […]

Electrons trapped by laser beam

Electrons trapped by laser beam

The experiment was carried out inside a vacuum chamber filled with a low density nitrogen or argon gas. A wave plate – in the form of a small circular piece of material – was inserted into the beam to reduce the strength of the signal at the centre of the beam. A series of lenses […]

Helium beam moves into sharper focus

Helium beam moves into sharper focus

Physicists have tried for years to develop a beam of atoms that could be focused as easily as electrons and photons. The helium atoms are fired at 1 km/s through a micron diameter nozzle past a set of fresnel plates – concentric rings of material of varying thickness. As the beam passes the plates, the […]

UK nuclear lab gets new management

UK nuclear lab gets new management

The UK government has been trying for some time to incorporate private-sector practices into government-run research centres. AWE Management replaces Hunting-BRAE, who were awarded a seven-year contract to manage the UK nuclear programme in 1993. BNFL is expected to manage waste, decommissioning and “legacy clean-up” operations, Lockheed will control weapons and technology, while Serco will […]

Water transfers energy at ultrafast rate

Water transfers energy at ultrafast rate

As a water molecule is excited by the laser pulse, it can only drop back to a less excited state by releasing the excess energy. This energy causes the O-H bonds to stretch and vibrate. As the bonds vibrate they knock other water molecules, transferring energy to a different O-H bond. This energy transfer can […]

Newton tops PhysicsWeb poll

Newton tops PhysicsWeb poll

Almost 400 people took part in the PhysicsWeb poll, each one naming their top-five physicists. The votes for each physicist were added up and weighted according to how they were ranked by individual voters. This meant that Newton received a higher score than Einstein even though more people voted for the twentieth century physicist. In […]

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