Culture, history and society
Latest articles
Sceptical space settlers, Einstein in England, trials of the JWST, tackling quantum fundamentals: micro reviews of the best recent books
Condensed natter: Physics World editors give their compressed verdicts on top new books
Gems from the Physics World archive: Isaac Asimov
Science-fiction fans in the Physics World team have a clear favourite from 36 years of articles
Opinion and reviews
Stop this historic science site in St Petersburg from being sold
A historic scientific landmark may soon disappear, says Robert P Crease
A breezy tour of what gaseous materials do for us
Margaret Harris reviews It’s a Gas: the Magnificent and Elusive Elements that Expand Our World by Mark Miodownik
Heisenberg gets ‘let off the hook’ in new historical drama based on the Farm Hall transcripts
Philip Ball reviews Farm Hall by Katherine Moar at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London, which runs until 31 August 2024
Paradigm shifts: positivism, realism and the fight against apathy in the quantum revolution
Jim Baggott reviews Escape from Shadow Physics: the Quest to End the Dark Ages of Quantum Theory by Adam Forrest Kay
Constellation and Dark Matter: the TV series that could change your view of quantum mechanics
What can quantum multiple-world fiction teach us about identity, ask Robert P Crease and Jennifer Carter
Physics cookbook is fun but fails to gel
Megan Povey reviews Physics in the Kitchen by George Vekinis
Features
Explore more in culture, history and society
Read article: Roger Penrose: the Nobel laureate with a preference for transparencies over slideshows
Roger Penrose: the Nobel laureate with a preference for transparencies over slideshows
Tushna Commissariat recounts a fascinating chat with Roger Penrose
Read article: Laureates on film: Nobel winners who have graced our silver screen
Laureates on film: Nobel winners who have graced our silver screen
Chatting with Frank Wilczek and Albert Fert
Read article: How to rotate your mattress like a physics Nobel prizewinner
How to rotate your mattress like a physics Nobel prizewinner
A tongue-in-cheek e-mail exchange with 1973 Nobel Prize winner Brian Josephson shows that for some laureates, scientific rigour extends to ordinary life, too
Read article: Use our infographic to predict this year’s Nobel prize winners
Use our infographic to predict this year’s Nobel prize winners
We are expecting a prize in condensed-matter physics in 2024
Read article: Nobel predictions and humorous encounters with physics laureates
Nobel predictions and humorous encounters with physics laureates
Physics World editors gaze into their crystal ball and reminisce about past Nobel winners
Read article: Physicists reveal the mechanics of tea scum
Physicists reveal the mechanics of tea scum
Researchers have looked at how tea scum breaks apart when stirred
Read article: The physics of cycling’s ‘Everesting’ challenge revealed
The physics of cycling’s ‘Everesting’ challenge revealed
Everesting involves a cyclist riding up and down a given hill multiple times until the ascent totals the elevation of Mount Everest – or 8848 m
Read article: Shrinivas Kulkarni: curiosity and new technologies inspire Shaw Prize in Astronomy winner
Shrinivas Kulkarni: curiosity and new technologies inspire Shaw Prize in Astronomy winner
"No shortage of phenomena to explore," says expert on variable and transient objects
Read article: Researchers cut to the chase on the physics of paper cuts
Researchers cut to the chase on the physics of paper cuts
A paper cut “sweet spot” just happens to be close to the thickness of paper in print magazines
Read article: The Wow! signal: did a telescope in Ohio receive an extraterrestrial communication in 1977?
The Wow! signal: did a telescope in Ohio receive an extraterrestrial communication in 1977?
This podcast features an astrobiologist who has identified similar radio signals
Read article: Abdus Salam: honouring the first Muslim Nobel-prize-winning scientist
Abdus Salam: honouring the first Muslim Nobel-prize-winning scientist
Claudia de Rham and Ian Walmsley pay tribute to the contributions of the great theorist Abdus Salam
Read article: Physics for a better future: mammoth book looks at science and society
Physics for a better future: mammoth book looks at science and society
Our podcast guest is Christophe Rossel, co-author of EPS Grand Challenges
Read article: Pumping on a half-pipe: physicists model a skateboarding skill
Pumping on a half-pipe: physicists model a skateboarding skill
Variable pendulum describes how energy is pumped into the system
Read article: Abdus Salam: celebrating a unifying force in global physics
Abdus Salam: celebrating a unifying force in global physics
Our podcast guests are Claudia de Rham and Ian Walmsley at Imperial College
Read article: Rumours spread like nuclear fission, say physicists
Rumours spread like nuclear fission, say physicists
Neutrons are rumours and people are uranium isotopes in new model
Read article: Could humans run on water?
Could humans run on water?
Scientists have investigated whether we could mimic basilisk lizards, on Earth or elsewhere
Read article: Aperiodicity: the dance event bringing non-repeating patterns to life
Aperiodicity: the dance event bringing non-repeating patterns to life
Matin Durrani reviews Aperiodic – an art-science performance from South West Dance Theatre
Read article: Clams and algae collaborate to harvest sunlight very efficiently
Clams and algae collaborate to harvest sunlight very efficiently
Symbiotic relationship is explored by physicists
Related jobs
Related events
- Medical physics | Course Hybrid Teaching Course Particle Therapy 14 October — 29 November 2024 | Heidelberg, Germany
- Medical physics | Meeting Medical Physics Group Translational Techniques in Medical Physics 29 November 2024 | London, UK
- Everyday science | Conference Pittcon Conference and Exposition 1—5 March 2025 | Boston, US
Copyright © 2024 by IOP Publishing Ltd and individual contributors