Physics World
@physicsworld.bsky.social
News, views and information for the global physics community. physicsworld.com
An unusual signal initially picked up by the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors and subsequently by optical telescopes around the world may have been a “superkilonova” – that is, a kilonova that took place inside a supernova. 🧪⚛️🔭 physicsworld.com/a/unusual-as...
Unusual astronomical event might be a 'superkilonova' – Physics World
Merger of two neutron stars in the aftermath of a supernova may have been observed for the first time, though questions remain
physicsworld.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:13 AM
An unusual signal initially picked up by the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors and subsequently by optical telescopes around the world may have been a “superkilonova” – that is, a kilonova that took place inside a supernova. 🧪⚛️🔭 physicsworld.com/a/unusual-as...
Honor Powrie reveals why she has a love–hate relationship with patents. On the one hand, they can be worthwhile but on the other can be time-consuming and expensive to take out. 🧪⚛️🔭
physicsworld.com/a/the-pros-a...
physicsworld.com/a/the-pros-a...
The pros and cons of patenting – Physics World
Honor Powrie reveals her love–hate relationship with patents
physicsworld.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Honor Powrie reveals why she has a love–hate relationship with patents. On the one hand, they can be worthwhile but on the other can be time-consuming and expensive to take out. 🧪⚛️🔭
physicsworld.com/a/the-pros-a...
physicsworld.com/a/the-pros-a...
A new way of creating arrays of ultracold neutral atoms using optical metasurfaces could make it possible to build #quantum computers with more than 100,000 qubits – two orders of magnitude higher than today’s best machines. 💡⚛️🧪 physicsworld.com/a/metasurfac...
Metasurfaces create super-sized neutral atom arrays for quantum computing – Physics World
Technique lays the groundwork for neutral-atom quantum computers with more than 100,000 qubits, say physicists
physicsworld.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:16 PM
A new way of creating arrays of ultracold neutral atoms using optical metasurfaces could make it possible to build #quantum computers with more than 100,000 qubits – two orders of magnitude higher than today’s best machines. 💡⚛️🧪 physicsworld.com/a/metasurfac...
A passive vacuum pump that uses 3D-printed surfaces to better absorb gas molecules has been unveiled by researchers in the UK. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/9RUr50Y9SI9
Pockets and pillars capture ricocheting molecules in vacuum pump – Physics World
Passive system could give quantum sensors a boost
ow.ly
February 6, 2026 at 12:53 PM
A passive vacuum pump that uses 3D-printed surfaces to better absorb gas molecules has been unveiled by researchers in the UK. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/9RUr50Y9SI9
This episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast features Amanda Randles, who is a computer scientist and biomedical engineer at Duke University in the US. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/2QQ050Y9sLB
Physics‑based simulations help diagnose and treat disease – Physics World
Computer scientist Amanda Randles is our podcast guest
ow.ly
February 5, 2026 at 5:51 PM
This episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast features Amanda Randles, who is a computer scientist and biomedical engineer at Duke University in the US. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/2QQ050Y9sLB
Clusters containing thousands of atoms can still behave like waves, demonstrating the validity of #quantum mechanics for particles as massive as virions and some proteins. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/schrodinge...
Schrödinger cat state sets new size record – Physics World
Clusters containing thousands of metal atoms obey the laws of quantum mechanics, say physicists
physicsworld.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Clusters containing thousands of atoms can still behave like waves, demonstrating the validity of #quantum mechanics for particles as massive as virions and some proteins. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/schrodinge...
If you're a UK physicist or astronomer who's concerned about planned funding cuts to science funding by the UKRI, our parent organization @iop.org wants to hear from you: 🧪⚛️🔭 www.iop.org/feedback-fol...
Feedback following UKRI refocusing of funding
Please share your feedback following UKRI's refocusing of funding.
www.iop.org
February 5, 2026 at 10:30 AM
If you're a UK physicist or astronomer who's concerned about planned funding cuts to science funding by the UKRI, our parent organization @iop.org wants to hear from you: 🧪⚛️🔭 www.iop.org/feedback-fol...
Reposted by Physics World
IOP President-elect Paul Howarth CBE warns of a "devastating blow to the foundations of physics" in the @financialtimes.com today following news of planned STFC cuts last week: www.ft.com/content/5732...
UK physicists raise alarm over planned funding cuts
Research chief tries to quell alarm as government reshapes science funding in effort to boost growth
www.ft.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:14 PM
IOP President-elect Paul Howarth CBE warns of a "devastating blow to the foundations of physics" in the @financialtimes.com today following news of planned STFC cuts last week: www.ft.com/content/5732...
Hints of non-gravitational interactions between dark matter and “relic” neutrinos in the early universe have emerged in data from different periods of cosmic history – but we'll need new telescope observations to prove or disprove them. 🧪⚛️🔭 physicsworld.com/a/interactio...
Interactions between dark matter and neutrinos could resolve a cosmic discrepancy – Physics World
Finding challenges the standard model of cosmology
physicsworld.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Hints of non-gravitational interactions between dark matter and “relic” neutrinos in the early universe have emerged in data from different periods of cosmic history – but we'll need new telescope observations to prove or disprove them. 🧪⚛️🔭 physicsworld.com/a/interactio...
Implanted electrodes can provide stable and high-quality signals for controlling prosthetic hand and wrist function. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/implanted-...
Implanted electrodes provide intuitive control of prosthetic hand – Physics World
Signals recorded by implanted electrodes enable accurate prosthetic control of hand and wrist movements under real-world conditions
physicsworld.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Implanted electrodes can provide stable and high-quality signals for controlling prosthetic hand and wrist function. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/implanted-...
Reposted by Physics World
This great! I’m a firm believer that close coordination between theorists and experimentalists is much more impactful than the sum of them working in isolation.
Condensed-matter physics and materials science have a silo problem. Although researchers in these fields have access to vast amounts of data, these datasets are often fragmented. A new project called MaterialsGalaxy aims to change this. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/new-projec...
New project takes aim at theory-experiment gap in materials data – Physics World
MaterialsGalaxy platform will reduce unhelpful “silos” within the field, say scientists
physicsworld.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:27 PM
This great! I’m a firm believer that close coordination between theorists and experimentalists is much more impactful than the sum of them working in isolation.
Astronomers have created the most detailed map to date of the vast structures of dark matter that appear to permeate the universe. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/cBFX50Y8epT
New cosmic map will put dark-matter theories to the test – Physics World
COSMOS-Web uses JWST’s enhanced imaging capabilities
ow.ly
February 3, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Astronomers have created the most detailed map to date of the vast structures of dark matter that appear to permeate the universe. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/cBFX50Y8epT
Many people have wondered why the Chien-Shiung Wu never won the Nobel Prize for Physics. New findings from the Nobel archives, exclusively revealed in Physics World, show she was nominated 23 times by 18 different physicists - and yet was still left empty-handed. 🧪⚛️
physicsworld.com/a/twenty-thr...
physicsworld.com/a/twenty-thr...
Twenty-three nominations, yet no Nobel prize: how Chien-Shiung Wu missed out on the top award in physics – Physics World
Mats Larsson and Ramon Wyss reveal why Chien-Shiung Wu never won a Nobel prize
physicsworld.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Many people have wondered why the Chien-Shiung Wu never won the Nobel Prize for Physics. New findings from the Nobel archives, exclusively revealed in Physics World, show she was nominated 23 times by 18 different physicists - and yet was still left empty-handed. 🧪⚛️
physicsworld.com/a/twenty-thr...
physicsworld.com/a/twenty-thr...
Multi-ion particle therapy combining beams of carbon, oxygen and neon ions could enhance tumour control while reducing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/multi-ion-...
Multi-ion cancer therapy tackles the LET trilemma – Physics World
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
physicsworld.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:51 AM
Multi-ion particle therapy combining beams of carbon, oxygen and neon ions could enhance tumour control while reducing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/multi-ion-...
Condensed-matter physics and materials science have a silo problem. Although researchers in these fields have access to vast amounts of data, these datasets are often fragmented. A new project called MaterialsGalaxy aims to change this. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/new-projec...
New project takes aim at theory-experiment gap in materials data – Physics World
MaterialsGalaxy platform will reduce unhelpful “silos” within the field, say scientists
physicsworld.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Condensed-matter physics and materials science have a silo problem. Although researchers in these fields have access to vast amounts of data, these datasets are often fragmented. A new project called MaterialsGalaxy aims to change this. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/new-projec...
Physicists in Germany have created a new type of X-ray laser that uses a resonator cavity to improve the output of a conventional X-ray free electron laser (XFEL). 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/4l1L50Y6mGY
Cavity-based X-ray laser delivers high-quality pulses – Physics World
Electron undulator amplifies X-ray beam
ow.ly
February 2, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Physicists in Germany have created a new type of X-ray laser that uses a resonator cavity to improve the output of a conventional X-ray free electron laser (XFEL). 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/4l1L50Y6mGY
Researchers have developed a new semi-automated microanalytical method that can quantify the behaviour of atmospheric micro- and nanoplastics in city environments. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/scientists...
Scientists quantify behaviour of micro- and nanoplastics in city environments – Physics World
New insight into the behaviour of atmospheric plastics could be beneficial for investigating their effects on climate, ecosystems and human health
physicsworld.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:37 AM
Researchers have developed a new semi-automated microanalytical method that can quantify the behaviour of atmospheric micro- and nanoplastics in city environments. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/scientists...
In this sponsored podcast, medical physicist Todd McNutt explains how an AI-based tool can help improve the quality of radiation therapy. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/oSl150Y5oW4
AI-based tool improves the quality of radiation therapy plans for cancer treatment – Physics World
Medical physicist Todd McNutt is our podcast guest
ow.ly
January 29, 2026 at 2:32 PM
In this sponsored podcast, medical physicist Todd McNutt explains how an AI-based tool can help improve the quality of radiation therapy. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/oSl150Y5oW4
Deformed nucleus means that ytterbium-173 could be used to create an optical multi-ion clock that is both precise and stable. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/lOAi50Y4SBw
Ion-clock transition could benefit quantum computing and nuclear physics – Physics World
Deformed nucleus makes multi-ion design easier
ow.ly
January 28, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Deformed nucleus means that ytterbium-173 could be used to create an optical multi-ion clock that is both precise and stable. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/lOAi50Y4SBw
Researchers have brought a thought experiment devised by Albert Einstein into the laboratory, using a single trapped atom as a movable slit. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/einsteins-...
Einstein’s recoiling slit experiment realized at the quantum limit – Physics World
A century-old thought experiment on wave–particle duality is brought into the laboratory using a single trapped atom
physicsworld.com
January 28, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Researchers have brought a thought experiment devised by Albert Einstein into the laboratory, using a single trapped atom as a movable slit. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/einsteins-...
Uranus and Neptune are ice giant planets, right? Well...maybe. New models that make fewer initial assumptions (but still contain plenty of physics) suggest that these outer planet could be mostly made of rock, sparking fresh debate over how they formed. 🧪⚛️🔭 physicsworld.com/a/uranus-and...
Uranus and Neptune may be more rocky than icy, say astrophysicists – Physics World
Novel modelling approach suggests that the traditionally ice-rich image of these planets may be skewed
physicsworld.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Uranus and Neptune are ice giant planets, right? Well...maybe. New models that make fewer initial assumptions (but still contain plenty of physics) suggest that these outer planet could be mostly made of rock, sparking fresh debate over how they formed. 🧪⚛️🔭 physicsworld.com/a/uranus-and...
Ideas from string theory have improved models of biological networks. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/QfZ950Y4btQ
String-theory concept boosts understanding of biological networks – Physics World
Better imaging data point to surface minimization
ow.ly
January 27, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Ideas from string theory have improved models of biological networks. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/QfZ950Y4btQ
Silicon is the bedrock of modern classical computers. For #quantum computers, the bedrock is still TBD, but a new silicon-phosphorous qubit platform developed by researchers in Australia suggests that silicon could play a role here, too. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/could-sili...
Could silicon become the bedrock of quantum computers? – Physics World
Australian spin-out Silicon Quantum Computing makes the case with a modality-leading 11-qubit processor
physicsworld.com
January 27, 2026 at 9:21 AM
Silicon is the bedrock of modern classical computers. For #quantum computers, the bedrock is still TBD, but a new silicon-phosphorous qubit platform developed by researchers in Australia suggests that silicon could play a role here, too. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/could-sili...
Helium is a colourless, odourless gas that barely reacts with anything, which makes identifying helium leaks a real challenge. This sensor detects them by monitoring how sound waves propagate through a topological material – no chemical reactions required. 🧪⚛️
physicsworld.com/a/new-sensor...
physicsworld.com/a/new-sensor...
New sensor uses topological material to detect helium leaks – Physics World
Device works by monitoring frequency of sound waves propagating through a kagome material
physicsworld.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Helium is a colourless, odourless gas that barely reacts with anything, which makes identifying helium leaks a real challenge. This sensor detects them by monitoring how sound waves propagate through a topological material – no chemical reactions required. 🧪⚛️
physicsworld.com/a/new-sensor...
physicsworld.com/a/new-sensor...
Surprising result has implications for quantum multicloud storage and information loss from black holes. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/Zcvr50Y1LOH
Encrypted qubits can be cloned and stored in multiple locations – Physics World
“Elegant” result has implications for a quantum internet
ow.ly
January 26, 2026 at 8:32 AM
Surprising result has implications for quantum multicloud storage and information loss from black holes. 🧪⚛️ ow.ly/Zcvr50Y1LOH