Physics World

Unusual astronomical event might be a 'superkilonova' – Physics World Merger of two neutron stars in the aftermath of a supernova may have been observed for the first time, though questions remain

An unusual signal initially picked up by the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors and subsequently by optical telescopes around the world may have been a “superkilonova” – that is, a kilonova that took place inside a supernova. 🧪⚛️🔭 physicsworld.com/a/unusual-as...

The pros and cons of patenting – Physics World Honor Powrie reveals her love–hate relationship with patents

Honor Powrie reveals why she has a love–hate relationship with patents. On the one hand, they can be worthwhile but on the other can be time-consuming and expensive to take out. 🧪⚛️🔭

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Metasurfaces create super-sized neutral atom arrays for quantum computing – Physics World Technique lays the groundwork for neutral-atom quantum computers with more than 100,000 qubits, say physicists

A new way of creating arrays of ultracold neutral atoms using optical metasurfaces could make it possible to build #quantum computers with more than 100,000 qubits – two orders of magnitude higher than today’s best machines. 💡⚛️🧪 physicsworld.com/a/metasurfac...

Pockets and pillars capture ricocheting molecules in vacuum pump – Physics World Passive system could give quantum sensors a boost

A passive vacuum pump that uses 3D-printed surfaces to better absorb gas molecules has been unveiled by researchers in the UK. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/9RUr50Y9SI9

Physics‑based simulations help diagnose and treat disease – Physics World Computer scientist Amanda Randles is our podcast guest

This episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast features Amanda Randles, who is a computer scientist and biomedical engineer at Duke University in the US. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/2QQ050Y9sLB

Schrödinger cat state sets new size record – Physics World Clusters containing thousands of metal atoms obey the laws of quantum mechanics, say physicists

Clusters containing thousands of atoms can still behave like waves, demonstrating the validity of #quantum mechanics for particles as massive as virions and some proteins. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/schrodinge...

If you're a UK physicist or astronomer who's concerned about planned funding cuts to science funding by the UKRI, our parent organization @iop.org wants to hear from you: 🧪⚛️🔭 www.iop.org/feedback-fol...

UK physicists raise alarm over planned funding cuts Research chief tries to quell alarm as government reshapes science funding in effort to boost growth

IOP President-elect Paul Howarth CBE warns of a "devastating blow to the foundations of physics" in the @financialtimes.com today following news of planned STFC cuts last week: www.ft.com/content/5732...

Interactions between dark matter and neutrinos could resolve a cosmic discrepancy – Physics World Finding challenges the standard model of cosmology

Hints of non-gravitational interactions between dark matter and “relic” neutrinos in the early universe have emerged in data from different periods of cosmic history – but we'll need new telescope observations to prove or disprove them. 🧪⚛️🔭 physicsworld.com/a/interactio...

Implanted electrodes provide intuitive control of prosthetic hand – Physics World Signals recorded by implanted electrodes enable accurate prosthetic control of hand and wrist movements under real-world conditions

Implanted electrodes can provide stable and high-quality signals for controlling prosthetic hand and wrist function. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/implanted-...

This great! I’m a firm believer that close coordination between theorists and experimentalists is much more impactful than the sum of them working in isolation.

New cosmic map will put dark-matter theories to the test – Physics World COSMOS-Web uses JWST’s enhanced imaging capabilities

Astronomers have created the most detailed map to date of the vast structures of dark matter that appear to permeate the universe. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/cBFX50Y8epT

Twenty-three nominations, yet no Nobel prize: how Chien-Shiung Wu missed out on the top award in physics – Physics World Mats Larsson and Ramon Wyss reveal why Chien-Shiung Wu never won a Nobel prize

Many people have wondered why the Chien-Shiung Wu never won the Nobel Prize for Physics. New findings from the Nobel archives, exclusively revealed in Physics World, show she was nominated 23 times by 18 different physicists - and yet was still left empty-handed. 🧪⚛️
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Multi-ion cancer therapy tackles the LET trilemma – Physics World Particle therapy using a mix of carbon-, oxygen- and neon-ion beams helps tune the fine balance between range robustness, uniform dose and high linear energy transfer

Multi-ion particle therapy combining beams of carbon, oxygen and neon ions could enhance tumour control while reducing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/multi-ion-...

New project takes aim at theory-experiment gap in materials data – Physics World MaterialsGalaxy platform will reduce unhelpful “silos” within the field, say scientists

Condensed-matter physics and materials science have a silo problem. Although researchers in these fields have access to vast amounts of data, these datasets are often fragmented. A new project called MaterialsGalaxy aims to change this. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/new-projec...

Cavity-based X-ray laser delivers high-quality pulses – Physics World Electron undulator amplifies X-ray beam

Physicists in Germany have created a new type of X-ray laser that uses a resonator cavity to improve the output of a conventional X-ray free electron laser (XFEL). 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/4l1L50Y6mGY

Scientists quantify behaviour of micro- and nanoplastics in city environments – Physics World New insight into the behaviour of atmospheric plastics could be beneficial for investigating their effects on climate, ecosystems and human health

Researchers have developed a new semi-automated microanalytical method that can quantify the behaviour of atmospheric micro- and nanoplastics in city environments. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/scientists...

AI-based tool improves the quality of radiation therapy plans for cancer treatment – Physics World Medical physicist Todd McNutt is our podcast guest

In this sponsored podcast, medical physicist Todd McNutt explains how an AI-based tool can help improve the quality of radiation therapy. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/oSl150Y5oW4

Ion-clock transition could benefit quantum computing and nuclear physics – Physics World Deformed nucleus makes multi-ion design easier

Deformed nucleus means that ytterbium-173 could be used to create an optical multi-ion clock that is both precise and stable. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/lOAi50Y4SBw

Einstein’s recoiling slit experiment realized at the quantum limit – Physics World A century-old thought experiment on wave–particle duality is brought into the laboratory using a single trapped atom

Researchers have brought a thought experiment devised by Albert Einstein into the laboratory, using a single trapped atom as a movable slit. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/einsteins-...

Uranus and Neptune may be more rocky than icy, say astrophysicists – Physics World Novel modelling approach suggests that the traditionally ice-rich image of these planets may be skewed

Uranus and Neptune are ice giant planets, right? Well...maybe. New models that make fewer initial assumptions (but still contain plenty of physics) suggest that these outer planet could be mostly made of rock, sparking fresh debate over how they formed. 🧪⚛️🔭 physicsworld.com/a/uranus-and...

String-theory concept boosts understanding of biological networks – Physics World Better imaging data point to surface minimization

Ideas from string theory have improved models of biological networks. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/QfZ950Y4btQ

Could silicon become the bedrock of quantum computers? – Physics World Australian spin-out Silicon Quantum Computing makes the case with a modality-leading 11-qubit processor

Silicon is the bedrock of modern classical computers. For #quantum computers, the bedrock is still TBD, but a new silicon-phosphorous qubit platform developed by researchers in Australia suggests that silicon could play a role here, too. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/could-sili...

New sensor uses topological material to detect helium leaks – Physics World Device works by monitoring frequency of sound waves propagating through a kagome material

Helium is a colourless, odourless gas that barely reacts with anything, which makes identifying helium leaks a real challenge. This sensor detects them by monitoring how sound waves propagate through a topological material – no chemical reactions required. 🧪⚛️

physicsworld.com/a/new-sensor...

Encrypted qubits can be cloned and stored in multiple locations – Physics World “Elegant” result has implications for a quantum internet

Surprising result has implications for quantum multicloud storage and information loss from black holes. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/Zcvr50Y1LOH

Hot ancient galaxy cluster challenges current cosmological models – Physics World Observations of the thermal energy in a baby galaxy cluster 12.4 billion light years away suggest much more energetic early cluster growth than current theories assume

Observations of the thermal energy in a baby galaxy cluster 12.4 billion light years away are at least five times greater than theories predict, suggesting much more energetic early cluster growth than predicted by current models. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/hot-ancien...

Laser fusion: Focused Energy charts a course to commercial viability – Physics World Plasma physicist Debbie Callahan is our podcast guest

Focused Energy aims to build a commercial laser-fusion power plant. We speak to the company's chief strategy officer Debbie Callahan. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/GYl550Y1cpX

Modelling wavefunction collapse as a continuous flow yields insights on the nature of measurement – Physics World Quantum state diffusion framework makes it possible to characterize quantum measurement in terms of entropy production

When a wavefunction collapses in #quantum mechanics, is it instantaneous or gradual? The traditional view is that collapse happens at the moment of measurement, but in the quantum state diffusion framework, it's a continuous process. Here's why that matters: 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/modelling-...

NPL unveils miniature atomic fountain clock   – Physics World Precision timekeeper is just 5% the size of a conventional clock

A miniature version of an atomic fountain clock has been unveiled by researchers at the UK’s National Physical Laboratory. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/cESs50Y12ah

Shining laser light on a material produces subtle changes in its magnetic properties – Physics World New use for photolithography could have applications for data storage

Photolithography is the workhorse of modern chip manufacturing, but scientists @psi.ch and @ethz.ch recently discovered that it can also do something far more interesting: manipulate the magnetic properties of materials on a scale of nanometres. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/shining-la...