Condensed matter Research update Condensates on crest of a wave Fine-tuning Bose-Einstein condensates creates novel quantum states Read article: Condensates on crest of a wave
Particles and interactions Research update Oil company’s ‘microlepton’ technology dismissed 'Bogus technology' secures oil-exploration licence from the UK government
Structure and dynamics Research update Electron pulses reach the femtosecond scale Bursts of electrons – rather than light – could probe ultra-fast processes
Telescopes and space missions Research update Galactic lenses cut black holes down to size Quasar claim could boost models of the early Universe
Quantum optics Research update Defects combine to make perfect devices Physicists have shown it is possible to make near-perfect devices from defective components
Cosmology Research update Hawking scoops book prize The Universe in a Nutshell wins the 2002 Aventis Prize for Science Books Read article: Hawking scoops book prize
Particles and interactions Research update KEK names new leader Cosmic ray expert is made boss of Japan’s high-energy physics lab Read article: KEK names new leader
Optical physics Research update Silver foils the diffraction limit Fine patterns on metal films could lead to smaller photonic and electronic devices Read article: Silver foils the diffraction limit
Quantum optics Research update Magnetic spins to store quantum information Long-lived spin clusters in magnetic compounds could be ‘entangled’
Surfaces and interfaces Research update Laser lithography makes cheaper chips A new manufacturing process could revolutionize the semiconductor industry Read article: Laser lithography makes cheaper chips