Astronomers have been puzzling over the expansion rate of the Universe and its mass for decades. If the mass of the Universe is large enough, the expansion will eventually decrease and the Universe will then collapse in on itself. However, if the density of matter in the Universe is less than a certain critical density, […]
When light hits an object, diffraction causes the beam to spread over an area that depends on the aperture of the lens. The phase filters make this area smaller but also cause a reduction in the beam brightness (see image). Sales wondered what could be the smallest possible focal spot a beam could be subjected […]
If you want to learn about atomic clocks or the sophisticated construction of an atomic timescale, then Jo Ellen Barnett’s book is not the right place. However, if you are fascinated about discovering the impact that improved time measurements have had on our daily lives and on our understanding of the world, then this is […]
Fundamental breakthroughs in physics are continuing to yield new medical technologies for identifying and treating a range of diseases
Recent developments in the use of high magnetic fields and pulsed NMR techniques have made it possible to probe the structure of organic compounds as complex as proteins. Imaging machines based on the NMR principle have also been developed, and now provide a powerful and non-invasive tool for diagnosing a variety of medical conditions. However, […]
Nonlinear wave dynamics can help to explain what happens to the heart during an irregularity of the heartbeat known as a cardiac arrhythmia
Read article: Nonlinearity in the heart
Physicists tend to shy away from philosophy (and religion, although there are some exceptions). Any dealings with philosophy – other than those concerning quantum theory – tend to be superficial allusions to Karl Popper’s notion of falsification or to the “paradigm shifts” championed by Thomas Kuhn in his book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions . […]
Here are two related problems. First, the number of applicants to UK university courses in the physical sciences has fallen by 26% over the last three years. Second, there is an increasing tide of opinion – not only among opinion-formers, but also among those who set research priorities – that the future of physics in […]
Germany has a much less even pattern of citation than the US or England, with strengths in certain core fields, including physical sciences, maths and engineering, and weaknesses in economics and social science. France also performs well in engineering – despite a relatively modest output of papers – and is strong in applied maths and […]
The UK at present has no nuclear physics facilities of its own, and very little investment in facilities overseas. “SIRIUS would open up many opportunities in a number of areas, most notably in materials science and nuclear astrophysics, ” says Bill Gelletly, the Surrey University physicist who is SIRIUS project scientist. SIRIUS may also have […]
