New form of quantum advantage emerges from study of game theory and quantum information The post Playing games by the quantum rulebook expends less energy appeared first on Physics World.

This research introduces a novel approach to uncovering structural variables in complex systems, reshaping how we model the unpredictable behaviour of the real world The post Teaching machines to understand complexity appeared first on Physics World.

The Standard Model of particle physics is a very well-tested theory that describes the fundamental particles and their interactions. However, it does have several key limitations. For example, it doesn’t account for dark matter or why neutrinos have masses. One of the main aims of experimental particle physics at the moment is therefore to search […] The post Using AI to find new particles at the LHC appeared first on Physics World.

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Trade-off between precision and entropy production lies in measurement process The post Researchers pin down the true cost of precision in quantum clocks appeared first on Physics World.

Iulia Georgescu highlights the forgotten pioneers of computational physics and calls for a wider appreciation of research software engineers The post The forgotten pioneers of computational physics appeared first on Physics World.

Europe is a major wheat producer, but rising frequencies of drought and heatwaves increasingly threaten yields. To support breeding strategies aligned with future climatic challenges, we identified current European environments that are analogous to projected future drought and heat stress conditions in major wheat-growing regions. Using gridded crop model simulations with historical and future climate data from an ensemble of five global circulation models (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios), we characterized stress patterns during key wheat developmental phases. We clustered environments into stress classes and computed a continuous similarity index to map analogue regions. Our results show that by the end of the century, most official value for cultivation and use (VCU) trial sites will face intensified drought and heat stresses, with stress combinations exceeding historical ranges. Current climate analogues for most VCU wheat trial sites in Central Europe are predominantly located in southern Spain, southern Italy, and parts of Greece, yet these analogue environments are projected to decrease substantially under high-emission scenarios. The disappearance of climate analogues threatens breeding based on past conditions. Our results highlight the need to rapidly adapt wheat breeding strategies in Europe to future climate conditions.

Rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence is expected to drive proportional expansion of economic activity through productivity gains–potentially leading to higher energy consumption and associated environmental impacts, including increased carbon dioxide emissions. We combine data on economic activity with early estimates of likely adoption of AI across occupations and industries to quantify the potential change in energy use and carbon dioxide emissions for the United States. At the industry level, we estimate annual increases in energy use ranging from 0 and 12 petajoules (PJ) and carbon emissions from 0 tonnes to 272 kt (ktCO2). Aggregated across the economy, AI adoption could lead to an additional 28 PJ of energy use and 896 ktCO2 in emissions annually–equivalent to approximately 0.03% of annual national energy use and 0.02% of annual national CO2 emissions. These results highlight the need to account not only for the aggregate energy and environmental implications of AI-driven productivity gains, but also for how these impacts vary across industries based on their specific characteristics.

Recycling organic waste products (OWPs) is known to influence soil physical, chemical, and biological properties, yet few studies have compared the long-term effects of different OWP type across multiple sites. This study examined the impacts of repeated OWP application on soil properties in two French long-term field experiments: QualiAgro and PROspective (20 and 18 years, respectively). The OWP included dehydrated urban sewage sludge (SLU), green waste and SLU compost, biowaste compost from source-separated municipal organic waste co-composted with green waste, municipal solid waste compost, farmyard manure from a dairy cow farm (FYM), and composted FYM from open-air composting on a concrete platform. The application of OWP led to increased soil nutrient levels and trace element availability, and stimulated microbial biomass and enzyme activities, while the response of nematode varied depending on site and OWP type. Biological properties were less affected than physico-chemical properties, though the OWP application enhanced soil microbial biomass and specific enzyme activities. The impact on soil nematode communities varied depending on OWP type and site. Strong correlations were observed among soil property changes, with exogenous carbon and nutrient inputs from OWP identified as key drivers. Larger changes were noted in QualiAgro, where OWP application rates were higher and initial soil quality lower. These findings highlight that OWP applications, depending on their type, rate, and initial soil conditions, can significantly alter soil properties.

The dramatic impacts of global climate change have driven marine carbon dioxide removal innovation, including ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), in an attempt to keep global warming under 2 °C. We conducted a laboratory experiment to assess the impacts of brucite inspired alkalinity addition (BIAA) as an OAE approach on the carbonate chemistry, biogeochemistry, and composition of the natural Santa Barbara Channel phytoplankton community sourced from a spring upwelling event. The BIAA treatment used MgCl2 * 6H2O and NaOH to yield a total alkalinity (TA) concentration of ∼3000 µmol kg−1, in contrast with the untreated seawater controls (TA = ∼ 2300 µmol kg−1). Our results suggest that BIAA altered the phytoplankton community composition, including reduced contribution of diatoms and enhanced numbers of Prymnesiophyceae (coccolithophores and Phaeocystis sp.). These results are in agreement with observations that biogenic silica content was lower under BIAA treatment. While the concentration of particulate inorganic carbon was consistently higher compared to controls, these differences were not statistically significant. Results revealed no differences between control and BIAA treatment in particulate organic carbon and particulate organic nitrogen (PON) concentrations. The proxy for cellular photosynthetic health Fv/Fm revealed that cells were photosynthetically healthy for both control and BIAA treatments, but values were lower in the BIAA treatment at the beginning of the exponential phase. While statistical power limitations of laboratory results might restrict applicability to other systems, our overall results suggest that BIAA has a differential impact on phytoplankton functional groups and their biogeochemical performance.

A new study published in Environmental Research Letters finds that continued growth in artificial intelligence (AI) use across the United States could add approximately 900,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. This is not a small amount but equates to a relatively minor increase when viewed in the context of nationwide emissions. While AI adoption is expected […] The post AI Adoption in the U.S. Adds ~900,000 Tonnes of CO₂ Annually, Equal to 0.02% of National Emissions appeared first on IOP Publishing.

Surprising result could guide searches for quantum gravity The post Classical gravity may entangle matter, new study claims appeared first on Physics World.

The US High Energy Physics Advisory Panel has been dissolved for reasons of politics, not efficiency, says Robert P Crease The post Is Donald Trump conducting a ‘blitzkrieg’ on science? appeared first on Physics World.

Technology partners will focus on scalable cryogenic I/O cabling assemblies for next-generation quantum computing systems The post Delft Circuits, Bluefors: the engine-room driving joined-up quantum innovation appeared first on Physics World.

Ultrasound-activated microbubble arrays create flexible actuators for applications ranging from soft robotics to minimally invasive surgery The post Microbubbles power soft, programmable artificial muscles appeared first on Physics World.

Fears that the craft has been struck by a small piece of debris The post China’s Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft return delayed by space debris impact appeared first on Physics World.

New technique could deliver reconfigurable phononic devices with myriad applications The post Twistelastics controls how mechanical waves move in metamaterials appeared first on Physics World.

New alloy is made by doping scandium into the well-known La-H binary system The post Ternary hydride shows signs of room-temperature superconductivity at high pressures appeared first on Physics World.

At IOP Publishing, we’re committed to making research easier to publish, read, and share. Starting with the 2026 volumes, we’re introducing a few updates to our journal schedules and PDF formats to better support digital publishing and improve efficiency.  Here’s what’s changing:   Simplified Journal Schedules  We’re aligning journal issue schedules with their cover dates, moving […] The post Making Enhancements for a Better Digital Experience  appeared first on IOP Publishing.

Researchers predict that leadership parity will soon be reached between China and the US The post Scientific collaborations increasingly more likely to be led by Chinese scientists, finds study appeared first on Physics World.

This podcast features Antonio Rossi at the Italian Institute of Technology The post Unlocking the potential of 2D materials: graphene and much more appeared first on Physics World.

Multi-lens array probe visualizes the micro-vasculature of entire large organs without compromising image resolution or frame rate The post Ultrasound probe maps real-time blood flow across entire organs appeared first on Physics World.

Collective progress towards meeting the Paris Agreement’s long-term temperature goal (LTTG) remains insufficient, a shortfall to be addressed by new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The Agreement stipulates that countries’ NDCs will represent a progression and reflect their highest possible ambition (HPA). However, the vague conceptualisation of this HPA norm challenges its translation into practice, allowing states to reference ambition in their NDC without clear evidence. Recently, the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion on climate change provided clarification regarding this norm. The level of ambition communicated in an NDC is not entirely left to the discretion of states but must constitute an adequate contribution to the collective achievement of the global temperature goal. States are obliged to exercise due diligence to ensure their NDCs reflect their best efforts. Building on the ICJ’s interpretative guidance, we propose a structured framework to operationalise the HPA norm and reflect upon considerations of ambition in countries’ NDCs. The framework’s core pillars incorporate domestic, international, and implementation considerations in NDCs, elaborated upon in two elements per pillar. Under domestic considerations, NDCs should be based on a faithful assessment of mitigation options utilising national capabilities. International considerations require contributions that adequately support the LTTG while balancing equity. Implementation considerations demand that NDCs account for the co-impact of the measures considered and be actionable in the near term to ensure ambition is translated into action. The Paris Agreement-HPA Framework can support transparent communication of the conditions under which more ambitious targets can be pursued. We apply the framework to explore the engagement of current NDCs with the framework’s elements. Finally, the framework empowers societal stakeholders to interrogate, verify and, when necessary, challenge whether NDC preparations were carried out with due diligence, supporting accountability in global and national climate action.

The deliberate addition of sulfur dioxide in the stratosphere to form reflective sulfate aerosols, reflect sunlight, and reduce surface temperatures is increasingly being considered as an option for minimizing the impacts of climate change. This strategy would create an unprecedented climate where the relationship between surface temperature and carbon dioxide concentration is decoupled. The implications of stratospheric aerosol intervention (SAI) for global crop protein concentrations have not yet been explored. While elevated CO2 concentrations are expected to reduce crop protein, higher temperatures may increase crop protein concentrations. Here we report changes of maize, rice, soybean, and wheat protein concentrations under a medium emissions climate change scenario and a SAI scenario to maintain global average temperatures at 1.5 °C above preindustrial levels, as simulated by three global gridded crop models. We show that using SAI to offset surface temperature increases would create decreases in the global protein concentrations of maize and rice, with minimal impact on wheat and soybean. Some already protein-deficient and malnourished nations that rely heavily on these crops to meet protein demands would show large decreases in protein intake under SAI with the current diet pattern, which could exacerbate their nutrient scarcity. The range of results between crop models highlights the need for a more comprehensive analysis using additional crop models, climate models, a broader range of climate intervention scenarios, and advancements in crop models to better represent protein responses to climate changes.

International efforts to combat climate change almost inevitably entail relative earnings reductions for fossil fuel companies, and gains by renewable companies. This study investigates the relationship between climate change conference of the parties (COP) meetings and the stock market performance of selected publicly listed companies. Specifically, we compare the price formation of fossil fuel companies, ethically-rated (‘green’) companies and renewable energy companies during international climate negotiations, compared to the periods around them. We investigate changes in market behaviour during COPs using two different statistical approaches to assess both whole of the period and daily effects. Both methods find distinct increases in the values of stocks with high green ratings, but no changes in stocks of renewable companies and weaker and more statistically inconsistent decreases in the values of fossil fuel companies. No consistent results are found for variability measurements, other than general market variability increases during COPs. We show that, by contrast, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries meetings produce very strong increases in the stock values and variabilities of fossil fuel companies, and fairly strong decreases in the value of renewables companies, showing that detectable changes during predictable events are generally plausible. We conclude that market behaviour so far appears to favour companies with lower environmental impact during COPs but does not convincingly shift company price formation in line with the necessary green transition.