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Physics World October 2020

Physics World October 2020

Revolutionary rocket: could this engine transform space flight?

Reusable vehicles are vital to make access to space more affordable, but conventional rocket engines have their limits. In our cover feature, Oliver Nailard describes how UK firm Reaction Engines hopes to revolutionize space access with a new class of propulsion system, the Synergetic Air Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE). Also in this issue, Helen Gleeson describes her group’s work on auxetic materials, which get thicker (not thinner) when stretched, while Anna Demming looks at the power of optical microscopes that beat the diffraction limit. In Graduate Careers, we look at students who’ve gone down unconventional career paths.

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Joe Biden kickoff rally May 2019 news

US election focuses on science

Diversity in online spaces opinion

Redefining the scientific conference to be more inclusive

Zoom screenshots opinion

Courting controversy online

Brookhaven Graphite Research Reactor opinion

Monumental mistake

opinion

Green strings attached

feature

Eliminating the boundary between sky and space

Helen Gleeson with her former PhD student Devesh Mistry feature

Stretching the limits

Maze illustration careers

Path of least resistance

Space exploration has led to technological benefits here on Earth. review

Age of cosmic exploration

Flea drawing feature

Optical microscopy – how small can it go?

ouija board lateral thoughts

Is anybody there?

Humans on Mars illustration review

Intrepid interstellar adventurers

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