Physics Today

Researchers don’t need to do science engagement alone. As Jessa Barder writes, working with professionals makes the job easier, more effective, and can lead to better science. physicstoday.aip.org/features/when-…

The Smithsonian's National @airandspace Museum celebrated its 50th anniversary by unveiling five new galleries on 1 July. The new exhibitions are part of a museum-wide renovation that began in 2018 and that will conclude with the opening of two more galleries this fall. physicstoday.aip.org/news/air-and-s…

Even a small nuclear conflict could cause irreversible damage to global climate and food systems—but analysts considering the consequences of nuclear war often ignore those risks. #nuclearweapons physicstoday.aip.org/features/willf…

Increased emissions from wildfires in the past decade have reversed earlier progress made in decreasing US surface-level ozone pollution, a new analysis finds. physicstoday.aip.org/news/wildfire-…

The quantum world is full of counterintuitive phenomena. Using a vortex to scatter standing waves in water, researchers showed how classical fluids can serve as laboratories for visualizing quantum effects that may be much harder to observe in quantum systems. #BackScatter #quantum physicstoday.aip.org/backscatter/a-…

Evidence from erosion rates at sites worldwide suggests that active faults can cause long-term damage to rock up to 100 km away. #geoscience #physics physicstoday.aip.org/news/fault-mov…

Konrad Schwenke transitioned from computational soft-matter physics to financial crime consulting. He works to prevent and detect fraud. #whatcanphysicistsdo physicstoday.aip.org/news/konrad-sc…

In a dream job that combines her technical knowledge and policy interests, Ankita Gangotra coordinates a UN initiative to decarbonize cement, steel, and concrete. physicstoday.aip.org/news/ankita-ga…

Chip-scale gyroscopes are used to stabilize drones, measure movement in GPS-enabled devices, and help smartphones track users’ steps throughout the day. New research shows how a tweak to the gyroscopes’ design could improve their sensitivity. #GPS #gyroscopes physicstoday.aip.org/news/chip-scal…

The squeaking of sneakers is the unofficial soundtrack of a basketball game. With a high-speed camera and a microphone, researchers shed light on the process responsible for the familiar sound. #acoustics #sneakers #basketball physicstoday.aip.org/quick-study/a-…

An engineered pandemic. Nuclear war. Climate change. AI gone awry. Multidisciplinary teams seek to reduce the likelihood of—and bolster preparedness for—those and other global catastrophes. #existentialrisk physicstoday.aip.org/news/multidisc…

Cosmic rays can be a window into exciting experiments in physics, astrophysics, and atmospheric science. Cheap, easy-to-use muon detectors are bringing cosmic-ray studies to high schools and colleges worldwide. physicstoday.aip.org/news/muon-dete…

As quantum computing continues to rapidly develop, some researchers are advocating for studies of its eventual energy demands. #quantum #physics #quantumcomputing physicstoday.aip.org/news/how-much-…

In an era of phones, AI, and digital distractions, high school physics teacher Alice Flarend sees opportunity in getting students talking and helping them engage critically with science and technology. #Q&A #STEM #physicseducation physicstoday.aip.org/news/q-a-alice…

If @CERN can come up with the requisite billions in the next two-and-a-half years, the Future Circular Collider is a go. #particlephysics physicstoday.aip.org/news/if-cern-c…

Gravity is unique among the known fundamental forces: There is currently no experimental result that requires a quantum theory of gravity. Markus Aspelmeyer and @four_form explore what’s needed to identify elusive signatures and finally connect gravity to quantum mechanics. physicstoday.aip.org/features/the-e…

If the largest Jovian moon Ganymede coalesced at a cooler temperature than previously thought, that may explain some of its unique properties. #astronomy

Edward Alexander Bouchet, the first African American to receive his PhD, completed his physics degree 150 years ago at @Yale. Ronald Mickens provides an overview of his career, which was pathbreaking yet circumscribed by racism. #histSTM #BlackinPhysics physicstoday.aip.org/features/the-p…

The top two challenges that physics and astronomy undergrads say they are facing are research funding availability and uncertainty about the viability of physics and astronomy as careers. A decade's worth of surveys shows how student concerns have substantially shifted. #physics #astronomy physicstoday.aip.org/features/under…

New CERN analysis of so-called penguin decay may waddle particle physicists closer to finding a crack in the standard model. #physics #standardmodel physicstoday.aip.org/news/analysis-…