Composites Research update Less is more for conducting graphene composites Growing gold nanoparticles in situ makes graphene polymer composites effective conductors with very little graphene Read article: Less is more for conducting graphene composites
Biomedical devices Research update Wearable acoustic system monitors foetal motion A wearable system detects and discriminates foetal movements using acoustic sensors and accelerometers Read article: Wearable acoustic system monitors foetal motion
Climate Research update Hurricanes set to become wetter Study finds average 24% increase in rainfall if 22 named storms had formed in a warmer world Read article: Hurricanes set to become wetter
Quantum computing Research update Landauer principle passes quantum muster Physicists measure energy needed to erase information stored in a single ion Read article: Landauer principle passes quantum muster
Semiconductors and electronics Research update Data storage prospects broaden for antiferromagnetics A previously unobserved type of antiferromagnetic switching may be useful for memory applications Read article: Data storage prospects broaden for antiferromagnetics
Particle therapy Research update Proton imaging comes to The Christie The Christie in the UK will house the first proton imaging system to be installed in an operational proton therapy centre Read article: Proton imaging comes to The Christie
Climate Research update Meeting Paris 1.5 °C goal could save tens of trillions of dollars Savings from damage avoidance estimated at 30 times higher than costs of meeting target Read article: Meeting Paris 1.5 °C goal could save tens of trillions of dollars
Magnetism and spin Research update Skyrmions have attractive and repulsive tendencies Study could lead to new types of computer memory Read article: Skyrmions have attractive and repulsive tendencies
Ecosystems Research update Insects face calamitous habitat loss Unless nations act fast, habitat loss could rob half of all insects of over half their habitat. Other creatures, too, could suffer in a 3 °C warmer world Read article: Insects face calamitous habitat loss
Biomaterials Research update Bioengineered gel helps repair brain tissue Injectable angiogenic material might be used in a potential new therapy for stroke Read article: Bioengineered gel helps repair brain tissue
Physics World podcast Explore our two regular podcast series, Physics World Weekly and Physics World Stories