Pick of the Week
The pros and cons of patenting
Honor Powrie reveals her love–hate relationship with patents
Using AI boosts scientific productivity and career prospects, finds study
Yet the work shows that using AI can lead to a shrinking of research focus
Physics World Weekender
In case you missed it: catch up on current and classic Physics World articles about physics and winter sports.
Physics on ice
Rhett Allain on the slippery science of ice hockey
Gravity-defying ski moguls and snowmaking in warmish weather
A physicist hits the slopes
Research updates
Interactions between dark matter and neutrinos could resolve a cosmic discrepancy
Finding challenges the standard model of cosmology
Implanted electrodes provide intuitive control of prosthetic hand
Signals recorded by implanted electrodes enable accurate prosthetic control of hand and wrist movements under real-world conditions
New cosmic map will put dark-matter theories to the test
COSMOS-Web uses JWST’s enhanced imaging capabilities
Multi-ion cancer therapy tackles the LET trilemma
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
New project takes aim at theory-experiment gap in materials data
MaterialsGalaxy platform will reduce unhelpful “silos” within the field, say scientists
Cavity-based X-ray laser delivers high-quality pulses
Electron undulator amplifies X-ray beam
Jobs hub
Access the latest physics careers advice
Latest news
The latest opinion and reviews
The obscure physics theory that helped Chinese science emerge from the shadows
Robert P Crease reveals the curious twist in the development of Chinese physics in the 1960s
Mission to Mars: from biological barriers to ethical impediments
Emma Chapman reviews Becoming Martian: How Living in Space Will Change Our Bodies and Minds by Scott Solomon
Physics World podcasts
Physics World podcast
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.
Explore more of our recent articles
The 10th annual Physics World Careers guide showcases job options for physicists
Boost your career by checking out the free-to-read 96-page digital guide
Read article: The 10th annual Physics World Careers guide showcases job options for physicists
Joined-up thinking in quantum metrology: why collaboration is the secret of success
NPL has joined forces with other leading National Metrology Institutes to shape the international standards effort in quantum technologies
Read article: Joined-up thinking in quantum metrology: why collaboration is the secret of success
Top-cited authors from India and North America share their tips for early-career researchers
Pointers on how to boost the impact of your work
Read article: Top-cited authors from India and North America share their tips for early-career researchers
The physics of an unethical daycare model that uses illness to maximize profits
The arXiv paper is "not intended as a recipe for unethical daycare centre"
Read article: The physics of an unethical daycare model that uses illness to maximize profits
Saving the Titanic: the science of icebergs and unsinkable ships
Two studies published this week have an unexpected (if tenuous) link to the 20th century’s most famous maritime disaster
Read article: Saving the Titanic: the science of icebergs and unsinkable ships
Scientists quantify behaviour of micro- and nanoplastics in city environments
New insight into the behaviour of atmospheric plastics could be beneficial for investigating their effects on climate, ecosystems and human health
Read article: Scientists quantify behaviour of micro- and nanoplastics in city environments
Ion-clock transition could benefit quantum computing and nuclear physics
Deformed nucleus makes multi-ion design easier
Read article: Ion-clock transition could benefit quantum computing and nuclear physics
The power of a poster
Kevin McGuigan highlights what a good poster can do for your research
Read article: The power of a poster
Einstein’s recoiling slit experiment realized at the quantum limit
A century-old thought experiment on wave–particle duality is brought into the laboratory using a single trapped atom
Read article: Einstein’s recoiling slit experiment realized at the quantum limit
Uranus and Neptune may be more rocky than icy, say astrophysicists
Novel modelling approach suggests that the traditionally ice-rich image of these planets may be skewed
Read article: Uranus and Neptune may be more rocky than icy, say astrophysicists
String-theory concept boosts understanding of biological networks
Better imaging data point to surface minimization
Read article: String-theory concept boosts understanding of biological networks
Could silicon become the bedrock of quantum computers?
Australian spin-out Silicon Quantum Computing makes the case with a modality-leading 11-qubit processor
Read article: Could silicon become the bedrock of quantum computers?
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
Tune into online presentations that allow expert speakers to explain novel tools and applications
Reversible degradation phenomenon in PEMWE cells
Join the audience for a live webinar at 6 p.m. GMT/1 p.m. EST on 4 February 2026
Sponsored by The Electrochemical Society, Hiden Analytical, Scribner Associates, Gamry Instruments
Investigate how voltage dips below 1.5 V trigger reversible PEMWE performance gains, driven by iridium oxidation dynamics and reaction kinetics
Stay up to date with the latest international conferences, symposia and exhibitions for interdisciplinary scientists working across academic research and industry
Food Physics 2026
4—5 February 2026 | Leeds, UK
Physics plays a crucial role in the design of delicious, healthy, and nutritious food and beverages. This annual conference, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2026, brings together academics and industry professionals to share the latest developments and explore opportunities for physicists to tackle multidisciplinary challenges. These challenges range from sustainability to food manufacturing and the design of multiphase microstructures.
Copyright © 2026 by IOP Publishing Ltd and individual contributors