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Is this the year for a Nobel prize in condensed matter, or maybe particle physics?
We make our prize predictions for 2026
Exciton wavefunctions come into view
New work could lead to improvements in organic photovoltaics
Research updates
Polymer-tuned perovskite creates high-efficiency underwater solar cells
A novel crystallization approach boosts submerged solar cells to unprecedented stability, enabling effective conversion of filtered submarine light into sustainable underwater powe...
Heavy water isotopes make weather predictions more accurate
Incorporating satellite measurements of water vapour isotopes into weather models can improve weather forecasts, particularly when predicting heavy rainfall
Single-photon measurements confirm Richard Feynman’s vision of quantum mechanics
Foundational postulates of the path-integral formulation observed in the lab
What can cutting a photon in half tell us about causality and local equivalence?
Calculations identify complicated consequences of removing a mirror
Miniature microprobe enables internal imaging of smaller blood vessels than ever before
A microprobe can navigate and image smaller arteries than previously possible, helping diagnose and plan treatments for vascular diseases
Dirty magnetite nanoparticles keep cleaning up dyes
Synthesizing magnetite nanoparticles directly in dye-polluted water gives them new surface chemistry that lets them adsorb different pollutants
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The secret world of tribology
Honor Powrie pays tribute to the work of tribologists
Illuminating, beautiful and disturbing: a photographic record of the Trinity atomic test
Margaret Harris reviews Trinity: an Illustrated History of the World’s First Atomic Test
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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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Festival season finds Quantum Software Lab in high spirits
The Quantum Fringe filled the summer with inspiring events for students, scientists and the public, and celebrated the third anniversary of Edinburgh's Quantum Software Lab
Read article: Festival season finds Quantum Software Lab in high spirits
Debating the future of photonics: experts assess the challenges and opportunities ahead
The key themes facing photonics industry and research in the UK were discussed at the recent Photon2026 conference at Newcastle University
Read article: Debating the future of photonics: experts assess the challenges and opportunities ahead
Did space weather delay a train in 1841?
It would have been the earliest example of space weather impacting human technology, but an international team of researchers found a slight problem
Read article: Did space weather delay a train in 1841?
Quiz of the week: which site has been rejected for the Thirty Meter Telescope?
Have you been keeping up to date with physics news? Try our short quiz to find out
Read article: Quiz of the week: which site has been rejected for the Thirty Meter Telescope?
Faster cryogenics speeds up quantum testing
A cryostat that can reach temperatures of 4 K and warm back up again within just two hours offers an efficient solution for testing the electronic components needed to build quantu...
Read article: Faster cryogenics speeds up quantum testing
The free-to-read Physics World Big Science Briefing 2026 is out now
Discover how big science is playing its part to tackle the climate crisis
Read article: The free-to-read Physics World Big Science Briefing 2026 is out now
How scientific publishers are fighting back against fraudulent papermills
The growth of AI and papermills has caused publishers countless headaches
Read article: How scientific publishers are fighting back against fraudulent papermills
Einstein’s equivalence principle put to two new tests
The theory of general relativity still holds, according to new space-based and laboratory experiments
Read article: Einstein’s equivalence principle put to two new tests
Impact of VC on high temperature cycling of LFP/Gr cells
Join the audience for a live webinar at 6 p.m. BST/1 p.m. EDT on 14 October 2026
Read article: Impact of VC on high temperature cycling of LFP/Gr cells
Proton–oxygen collisions put cosmic-ray models to the test
CERN’s ATLAS experiment probes the extreme universe
Read article: Proton–oxygen collisions put cosmic-ray models to the test
In situ and operando optical microscopy and spectroscopy: investigating perovskite optoelectronic devices at work
Join the audience for a live webinar at 4 p.m. GMT/5 p.m. CET on 3 November 2026
Read article: In situ and operando optical microscopy and spectroscopy: investigating perovskite optoelectronic devices at work
Quiz of the week: how long could a lunar city survive?
Have you been keeping up to date with physics news? Try our short quiz to find out
Read article: Quiz of the week: how long could a lunar city survive?
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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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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
For modellers and experimentalists: discover how SEI formation and graphite expansion define Li‑ion transport in electrodes
Sponsored by The Electrochemical Society, BioLogic, Hiden Analytical
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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