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Redefining radiotherapy QA: meeting the needs of modern treatment workflows

First medical X-ray images taken in space achieve diagnostic quality

Diagnostic X-ray images recorded during an orbital spaceflight exhibited similar contrast and spatial resolution to those taken preflight on Earth

Hand radiographs recorded in space and on Earth

Private investment in fusion firms jumps by $4.5bn

Some 70% of fusion firms still expect private fusion to deliver commercial electricity by the 2030s

Research updates

Metasurface grating gives solar telescopes a boost

Photo of a person's gloved hand using tweezers to hold a transparent disk that contains a greyish circle 6 mm across, as shown by a 25 mm scale bar superimposed on the photo

Satellite-based sensor system designed to detect nuclear weapons in space

Metamaterial boosts heat transfer on the nanoscale

Powerful cosmic winds may have destroyed galaxies in the early universe

Astronomers discover a huge plume of gas streaming out of a galaxy during rapid star formation

Frost spreads across surfaces via suspended ‘ice bridges’

Previously unknown pathway involving superhydrophobic surfaces could influence the development of new anti-icing techniques

Does the Bullet Cluster contain a lot less dark matter than we thought?

New analysis of JWST observations suggests that the Bullet Cluster of galaxies might only have half as much dark matter as previously believed

Machine vision begins to work like the human eye

New artificial vision system adapts faster to changing light conditions

Antineutrino detectors could spot signs that a fusion reactor is producing weapons-grade plutonium

Non-intrusive technique could enable round-the-clock, offsite monitoring of reactor operations

AI-enhanced rare-event sampling helps predict extreme weather

Combining artificial intelligence with physical climate modelling enables more accurate characterization of rare weather events

Jobs hub

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Latest news

National Science Foundation’s X-Labs initiative draws fire as ‘terrible idea’

Vera C Rubin Observatory kicks off 10-year quest to map the cosmos

CERN says Large Hadron Collider has ‘exceeded every expectation’ as it shuts down ahead of major upgrade

The latest opinion and reviews

Tell us what science you need to know to be ‘cultured’

Two photos: an earthenware dish of porridge topped with butter; and Austrian vineyards with a bottle and glasses of wine in the foreground

In the age of AI, we must double down on the skills that make us experts

Nicole Sharp says that our scientific judgement has never been more important

Evidence in action: how science helps us make better decisions

Anita Chandran reviews Beyond Belief: How Evidence Shows What Really Works by Helen Pearson

Physics World podcasts

Static electricity: mysteries lurk within this everyday phenomenon

Beyond the data: art meets climate at the edge of the world

Artist Tom Bailey trekking in the Arctic with reindeer antlers

Independent linac commissioning matters for radiotherapy

Explore our two regular podcast series! Physics World Weekly looks at the latest events and headlines in physics, as well as featuring short interviews with scientists and our team of journalists. Physics World Stories takes a more in-depth look at a topic.

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Word flower puzzle no. 6

How many words can you find in this puzzle?

**The 2026 Physics World Instrumentation & Vacuum Briefing is out now**

SI units, quantum sensors, compact particle acceleration and improved radiotherapy all feature in a new free-to-read briefing

Pulsing blue laser sine waves cross, forming a scientific-inspired, illuminated installation with depth. 3D render illustration.

AI’s black box problem: discovering physics we don’t understand

Claire Malone wonders what happens if AI produces answers we can’t – or don’t – understand

Cartoon illustration of a man trying to understand an AI robot's output

Quiz of the week: what techniques can be combined to predict the frequency of extreme weather events?

Have you been keeping up to date with physics news? Try our short quiz to find out

History
Blog

Study reveals the energy cost of Hannibal’s Alpine crossing

The Col du Clapier route would have been the more energetically favourable

Measuring the invisible: how internal dosimetry shapes radiation protection

Assessing the impact of radiation exposure is crucial for protecting the health of workers, but expert judgement is needed to interpret the results

Safety first: Internal Dosimetry is the practice of estimating intakes and risk from occupational exposures to radioactive materials (Credit: iStock/??)

Physics and the green economy: a slide puzzle

Can you reconstruct this green energy image in our interactive slide puzzle?

Graphic illustration of the concept of the green economy

Changes in structure and ionic resistance of lithium-ion battery graphite electrodes

Join the audience for a live webinar at 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. EDT on 5 August 2026

Discover how SEI formation and graphite expansion define Li-ion transport in electrodes

Quiz of the week: what are researchers using to detect the motion of silent whales?

Have you been keeping up to date with physics news? Try our short quiz to find out

‘Back to the future’ messages are more efficient

Closed time-like curves allow greater information capacity when sending messages backwards in time

A photo of a Playmobil model of the Delorean used as a time machine in the film Back to the Future. The car has a California licence plate reading "OUTATIME" and looks like it's on a real road.

New superconducting diode gives greater control over the flow of electrons

Device based on two-dimensional oxide interface superconductors can be “edited” using atomic force microscope lithography

Three men standing in a laboratory next to a rack of equipment and a vacuum chamber with many ports and hoses. The men are wearing blue lab coats and protective booties over their shoes.

Wearable pacemaker uses ultrasound to control heart rhythm

Integrating sonogenetics with ultrasound technology, non-invasive pacemaker is designed to manage cardiac rhythm disorders

Featured employer

Physics World Jobs offers a range of opportunities for jobseekers with a background in physics or engineering. At all stages of your career, we can help find the job for you

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

For more than 60 years, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has applied science and technology to make the world a safer place. Its defining responsibility is ensuring the safety, security and reliability of the nation’s nuclear deterrent

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Featured webinar

Tune into online presentations that allow expert speakers to explain novel tools and applications

From bunkers to bright spaces: the future of smart shielded radiosurgery treatment rooms

Join the audience for a live webinar at 4 p.m. GMT/5 p.m. CET on 31 March 2026

Discover how smart shielding enables bright, modern radiosurgery rooms beyond traditional bunker designs

Sponsored by Elekta

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Featured event

Stay up to date with the latest international conferences, symposia and exhibitions for interdisciplinary scientists working across academic research and industry

Innovations in Applied Mechanics 2026

23—26 September 2026 | London, UK

Innovations in Applied Mechanics brings together two previous, highly successful conferences MPSVA – Modern Practice in Stress and Vibration Analysis and DAMAS – International Conference on Damage Assessment in Structures to present research findings in stress analysis, vibration dynamics and structural damage assessment with the intention of providing directed focus on the state-of-the-art in theoretical and experimental methodology.

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