Culture, history and society
Latest articles
Academic assassinations are a threat to global science
Alireza Qaiumzadeh says that science can only exist if scientists are protected as civilians
‘Caustic’ light patterns inspire new glass artwork
The piece is based on the research of theoretical physicist Michael Berry
Opinion and reviews
Destroyers of the world: the physicists who built nuclear weapons
Andrew Robinson reviews Destroyer of Worlds: the Deep History of the Nuclear Age 1895–1965 by Frank Close
Relive the two decades when physicists basked in the afterglow of the Standard Model
Robert P Crease previews the 4th International Symposium on the History of Particle Physics
Leprechauns on tombstones: your favourite physics metaphors revealed
Robert P Crease looks at experimentally testable physics metaphors
Delving into the scientific mind, astronomy’s happy accidents, lit science experiments at home, the art of NASA: micro reviews of recent books
Condensed natter: Physics World editors give their compressed verdicts on top new books
‘The Trump uncertainty principle’ is destroying the position and momentum of US science
The Trump administration is ripping US science apart, warns Robert P Crease
Harmonious connections: bridging the gap between music and science
Philip Moriarty reviews A Perfect Harmony: Music, Mathematics, and Science by David Darling
Celebrating the best of Critical Point
Critical Point has appeared in Physics World magazine since May 2000, written by science historian and philosopher Robert P Crease. Enjoy our pick of the best columns, which bring the perspective of an outsider looking in on the “workshop of science”.
Features
Explore more in culture, history and society
Is your WiFi spying on you?
"Beamforming feedback information" in latest version of the technology can identify individuals passing through radio networks with almost 100% accuracy, say researchers
Read article: Is your WiFi spying on you?
Talking physics with an alien civilization: what could we learn?
Do Aliens Speak Physics? author Daniel Whiteson is our podcast guest
Read article: Talking physics with an alien civilization: what could we learn?
Better coffee, easier parking and more: the fascinating physics of daily life
The author of Physics Around the Clock is our podcast guest
Read article: Better coffee, easier parking and more: the fascinating physics of daily life
Quantum steampunk: we explore the art and science
Our podcast guests are a physicist and a sculptor
Read article: Quantum steampunk: we explore the art and science
Physicists explain why some fast-moving droplets stick to hydrophobic surfaces
New experiments and calculations could improve aerosol and microfluidic technologies while shedding more light on airborne disease transmission
Read article: Physicists explain why some fast-moving droplets stick to hydrophobic surfaces
The physics behind why cutting onions makes us cry
It’s mostly to do with knife sharpness and cutting technique
Read article: The physics behind why cutting onions makes us cry
Quantum information or metamaterials: our predictions for this year’s Nobel Prize for Physics
It’s a mug’s game, but we always have a go
Read article: Quantum information or metamaterials: our predictions for this year’s Nobel Prize for Physics
The curious history of Nobel prizes: from lighthouses to gravitational waves
In this podcast we also make predictions for this year’s physics award
Read article: The curious history of Nobel prizes: from lighthouses to gravitational waves
Imagining alien worlds: we explore the science and fiction of exoplanets
Keith Cooper chats about his new book in this podcast
Read article: Imagining alien worlds: we explore the science and fiction of exoplanets
‘Father of the Internet’ Vint Cerf expresses concern about the longevity of digital information
How do we create a digital version of the vellum and clay tablets that successfully preserved information in earlier ages of human history?
Read article: ‘Father of the Internet’ Vint Cerf expresses concern about the longevity of digital information
Why foamy heads on Belgium beers last so long
It’s all to do with the triple-fermentation process
Read article: Why foamy heads on Belgium beers last so long
Overlooked pioneers from quantum history
This episode of Physics World Stories explores a new book that restores women to the early history of quantum mechanics
Read article: Overlooked pioneers from quantum history
‘I left the school buzzing and on a high’
Colin White explains why doing schools outreach put him way outside his comfort zone
Read article: ‘I left the school buzzing and on a high’
The rise of women in quantum science in India and the legacy of Satyendra Nath Bose
Tanusri Saha-Dasgupta and Rupamanjari Ghosh celebrate the women at the forefront of quantum science in India
Read article: The rise of women in quantum science in India and the legacy of Satyendra Nath Bose
Vilnius University physicist creates micron-sized model of the Sorbonne Chapel
The model is 275,000 times smaller than the real Sorbonne Chapel
Read article: Vilnius University physicist creates micron-sized model of the Sorbonne Chapel
Helgoland 2025: the inside story of what happened on the ‘quantum island’
Matin Durrani reports from the Helgoland 2025 conference marking 100 years of quantum mechanics
Read article: Helgoland 2025: the inside story of what happened on the ‘quantum island’
Heisenberg (not) in Helgoland: where two paths diverge
Kevlin Henney imagines what Werner Heisenberg did or didn't do in June 1925
Read article: Heisenberg (not) in Helgoland: where two paths diverge
Painting the unseen: visualizing the quantum world
From swirling oil paints to the grin of a Cheshire cat, this Physics World Stories episode brings quantum science to life
Read article: Painting the unseen: visualizing the quantum world
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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