Transport properties Research update Nanotubes flex their muscles Artificial muscle pulled from CNT array Read article: Nanotubes flex their muscles
Ultrafast science Research update US energy boss reveals $1.2bn spending plans Steven Chu names national labs and clean energy as big winners of stimulus package Read article: US energy boss reveals $1.2bn spending plans
Optical physics Research update Technique to mass produce metamaterials Silver nanowires negatively refract visible light Read article: Technique to mass produce metamaterials
Microscopy Research update Seeing chemicals at the nanoscale Synchrotron radiation and microscopy combine to reveal chemical identities Read article: Seeing chemicals at the nanoscale
Gravity Research update Gravity probe blasts off €350m craft to provide high-resolution map of Earth’s gravitational field Read article: Gravity probe blasts off
Quantum mechanics Research update Quantum friction: does it exist after all? New calculations suggest no lateral force between moving plates in a vacuum
Microscopy Research update TEAM sees crystals smaller and clearer Berkeley researchers revamp their transmission electron microscope
Renewables Research update Battery charges in a hurry New battery could speed up hybrid cars Read article: Battery charges in a hurry
Climate Research update US pays price for $500m budget blunder Carbon-capture demonstration plant was cancelled due to miscalculation Read article: US pays price for $500m budget blunder
Transport properties Research update Molecular junctions make a switch Study sheds light on tunnelling Read article: Molecular junctions make a switch
Physics World podcast Explore our two regular podcast series, Physics World Weekly and Physics World Stories