FQxI
@fqxi.org
Exploring the foundations of physics and cosmology with Zeeya Merali and Gabe Fitzpatrick, of the Foundational Questions Institute, FQxI, the physics think tank and funding agency.
Pinned
After 50+ years studying consciousness, Robert Lawrence Kuhn discovered something strange:
The more we learn, the MORE theories we create. Not fewer.
FQxI Article: qspace.fqxi.org/news/165289/...
New Scientist Article: www.newscientist.com/article/2498...
The more we learn, the MORE theories we create. Not fewer.
FQxI Article: qspace.fqxi.org/news/165289/...
New Scientist Article: www.newscientist.com/article/2498...
After 50+ years studying consciousness, Robert Lawrence Kuhn discovered something strange:
The more we learn, the MORE theories we create. Not fewer.
FQxI Article: qspace.fqxi.org/news/165289/...
New Scientist Article: www.newscientist.com/article/2498...
The more we learn, the MORE theories we create. Not fewer.
FQxI Article: qspace.fqxi.org/news/165289/...
New Scientist Article: www.newscientist.com/article/2498...
November 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM
After 50+ years studying consciousness, Robert Lawrence Kuhn discovered something strange:
The more we learn, the MORE theories we create. Not fewer.
FQxI Article: qspace.fqxi.org/news/165289/...
New Scientist Article: www.newscientist.com/article/2498...
The more we learn, the MORE theories we create. Not fewer.
FQxI Article: qspace.fqxi.org/news/165289/...
New Scientist Article: www.newscientist.com/article/2498...
The science journals Critical Care Medicine and Biology Open and the science platform Research Hub have been testing how paying reviewers affects the science publishing process. Reporter Geoff Marsh found out more.
Full podcast: qspace.fqxi.org/podcasts/125
Full podcast: qspace.fqxi.org/podcasts/125
November 12, 2025 at 5:15 PM
The science journals Critical Care Medicine and Biology Open and the science platform Research Hub have been testing how paying reviewers affects the science publishing process. Reporter Geoff Marsh found out more.
Full podcast: qspace.fqxi.org/podcasts/125
Full podcast: qspace.fqxi.org/podcasts/125
Two free quantum music concerts in Oxford with Rakhat-Bi Abdyssagin and @coecke.bsky.social, as part of the “What Quantum?” centenary events.
Admittance is free, but spaces are limited.
More information: qspace.fqxi.org/news/165314/...
Admittance is free, but spaces are limited.
More information: qspace.fqxi.org/news/165314/...
November 11, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Two free quantum music concerts in Oxford with Rakhat-Bi Abdyssagin and @coecke.bsky.social, as part of the “What Quantum?” centenary events.
Admittance is free, but spaces are limited.
More information: qspace.fqxi.org/news/165314/...
Admittance is free, but spaces are limited.
More information: qspace.fqxi.org/news/165314/...
We spoke to Hassan recently at @perimeterinstitute.ca, where he's working with @nafshordi.bsky.social to detect quantum echoes in #GravitationalWaves as a way to prove #QuantumGravity.
November 7, 2025 at 5:05 PM
We spoke to Hassan recently at @perimeterinstitute.ca, where he's working with @nafshordi.bsky.social to detect quantum echoes in #GravitationalWaves as a way to prove #QuantumGravity.
100 Years of Quantum ran at Perimeter Institute, Oct 20–24, 2025. It marked the centenary of modern quantum theory and linked history, philosophy and physics. Co-organizer Doreen Fraser (UWaterloo) tells us more. #IYQ2025 #100YearsOfQuantum @perimeterinstitute.ca
November 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
100 Years of Quantum ran at Perimeter Institute, Oct 20–24, 2025. It marked the centenary of modern quantum theory and linked history, philosophy and physics. Co-organizer Doreen Fraser (UWaterloo) tells us more. #IYQ2025 #100YearsOfQuantum @perimeterinstitute.ca
We are seeking a Program Coordinator to provide project-specific administrative management and support for the Foundational Answers project, along with other administrative duties as needed
Remote
Full-time
~$55,000 – $72,000 USD per year
fqxi.org/jobs-program...
Remote
Full-time
~$55,000 – $72,000 USD per year
fqxi.org/jobs-program...
November 4, 2025 at 5:44 PM
We are seeking a Program Coordinator to provide project-specific administrative management and support for the Foundational Answers project, along with other administrative duties as needed
Remote
Full-time
~$55,000 – $72,000 USD per year
fqxi.org/jobs-program...
Remote
Full-time
~$55,000 – $72,000 USD per year
fqxi.org/jobs-program...
Reposted by FQxI
Looking for a postdoc in foundations of physics/cosmology/science? Come work with us at @fqxi.org on the Foundational Answers project
fqxi.org/jobs-postdoc...
fqxi.org/jobs-postdoc...
Postdoctoral Research Associate - FQxI
FQxI is seeking Postdoctoral Research Associates for the Foundational Answers project. Job Title: Postdoctoral Research Associate Organization: Foundational Questions Institute (FQxI) Location: Remote...
fqxi.org
November 3, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Looking for a postdoc in foundations of physics/cosmology/science? Come work with us at @fqxi.org on the Foundational Answers project
fqxi.org/jobs-postdoc...
fqxi.org/jobs-postdoc...
This Halloween special edition of the FQxI podcast features Bernard Carr, who discusses primordial black holes, the notorious 1970s Enfield poltergeist case that Carr investigated, and more!
Listen to Part 1: qspace.fqxi.org/podcasts/126...
Listen to Part 1: qspace.fqxi.org/podcasts/126...
October 31, 2025 at 6:03 PM
This Halloween special edition of the FQxI podcast features Bernard Carr, who discusses primordial black holes, the notorious 1970s Enfield poltergeist case that Carr investigated, and more!
Listen to Part 1: qspace.fqxi.org/podcasts/126...
Listen to Part 1: qspace.fqxi.org/podcasts/126...
“The wave function is not a mere quantum hypothesis, it’s the stuff of the universe,” Says Alyssa Ney.
Congrats to Alyssa Ney on the APS Patrick Suppes Prize for The World in the Wave Function!
Congrats to Alyssa Ney on the APS Patrick Suppes Prize for The World in the Wave Function!
October 25, 2025 at 4:52 PM
“The wave function is not a mere quantum hypothesis, it’s the stuff of the universe,” Says Alyssa Ney.
Congrats to Alyssa Ney on the APS Patrick Suppes Prize for The World in the Wave Function!
Congrats to Alyssa Ney on the APS Patrick Suppes Prize for The World in the Wave Function!
Reposted by FQxI
Postdoctoral Research Positions in the Foundations of physics.
fqxi.org/jobs-postdoctoral-research-associate/
We're looking for postdocs to work on the "Foundational Answers" program. Work with some brilliant, friendly people on a fun and exciting research project.
fqxi.org/jobs-postdoctoral-research-associate/
We're looking for postdocs to work on the "Foundational Answers" program. Work with some brilliant, friendly people on a fun and exciting research project.
Postdoctoral Research Associate - FQxI
FQxI is seeking Postdoctoral Research Associates for the Foundational Answers project. Job Title: Postdoctoral Research Associate Organization: Foundational Questions Institute (FQxI) Location: Remote...
fqxi.org
October 23, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Postdoctoral Research Positions in the Foundations of physics.
fqxi.org/jobs-postdoctoral-research-associate/
We're looking for postdocs to work on the "Foundational Answers" program. Work with some brilliant, friendly people on a fun and exciting research project.
fqxi.org/jobs-postdoctoral-research-associate/
We're looking for postdocs to work on the "Foundational Answers" program. Work with some brilliant, friendly people on a fun and exciting research project.
Reposted by FQxI
Breaking News: Brown University became the second college to reject a White House deal offering preferential treatment for federal grants.
Brown University Rejects White House Deal for Special Treatment
Brown was the second university to turn down the deal, which would have given a funding preference to universities that agreed to certain requirements.
nyti.ms
October 15, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Breaking News: Brown University became the second college to reject a White House deal offering preferential treatment for federal grants.
A few years ago, FQxI funded Adam Brown for Complexity, Black Holes, and Observers. The aim was to show that maybe the real barrier in the black-hole information puzzle is computational, not a breakdown of physics.
October 15, 2025 at 5:01 PM
A few years ago, FQxI funded Adam Brown for Complexity, Black Holes, and Observers. The aim was to show that maybe the real barrier in the black-hole information puzzle is computational, not a breakdown of physics.
FQxI's Leonard Susskind won the the "Galileo Galilei Medal" award. The prize is awarded once every two years to scientists who have massively advanced research in theoretical physics. Congrats Leonard!
READ MORE: qspace.fqxi.org/news/165311/...
IMAGE 🔗 Lumidek
READ MORE: qspace.fqxi.org/news/165311/...
IMAGE 🔗 Lumidek
October 14, 2025 at 5:00 PM
FQxI's Leonard Susskind won the the "Galileo Galilei Medal" award. The prize is awarded once every two years to scientists who have massively advanced research in theoretical physics. Congrats Leonard!
READ MORE: qspace.fqxi.org/news/165311/...
IMAGE 🔗 Lumidek
READ MORE: qspace.fqxi.org/news/165311/...
IMAGE 🔗 Lumidek
Dark matter ≠ dark energy. Dark matter is an unseen mass we infer from gravity; dark energy labels an expansion that seems to speed up. In this clip from FQxI's latest podcast, Niayesh Afshordi talks about why the evidence behind each is different and why the story’s still being told.
October 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Dark matter ≠ dark energy. Dark matter is an unseen mass we infer from gravity; dark energy labels an expansion that seems to speed up. In this clip from FQxI's latest podcast, Niayesh Afshordi talks about why the evidence behind each is different and why the story’s still being told.
Reposted by FQxI
*deep sigh* Again, I have an English degree and have contributed rather extensively to the British economy, including writing a show that pumped £10 million into Wales. But the stupidity is the point here, of course.
Badenoch and Co see education only as a means to a massive income in some soul destroying career.
Devoid of imagination and the power of knowledge they view life entirely through the prism of the CV.
My advice always is to study what interests you and the rest will follow
Devoid of imagination and the power of knowledge they view life entirely through the prism of the CV.
My advice always is to study what interests you and the rest will follow
October 8, 2025 at 8:24 AM
*deep sigh* Again, I have an English degree and have contributed rather extensively to the British economy, including writing a show that pumped £10 million into Wales. But the stupidity is the point here, of course.
Reposted by FQxI
This is a good game.
I have an English degree and boosted a major publishing house’s share price, and saved a high street retail chain from closure.
If a Mickey Mouse degree lets you create actual Mickey fucking Mouse, it’s probably easily as good “for the economy” as business studies.
I have an English degree and boosted a major publishing house’s share price, and saved a high street retail chain from closure.
If a Mickey Mouse degree lets you create actual Mickey fucking Mouse, it’s probably easily as good “for the economy” as business studies.
*deep sigh* Again, I have an English degree and have contributed rather extensively to the British economy, including writing a show that pumped £10 million into Wales. But the stupidity is the point here, of course.
Badenoch and Co see education only as a means to a massive income in some soul destroying career.
Devoid of imagination and the power of knowledge they view life entirely through the prism of the CV.
My advice always is to study what interests you and the rest will follow
Devoid of imagination and the power of knowledge they view life entirely through the prism of the CV.
My advice always is to study what interests you and the rest will follow
October 8, 2025 at 8:28 AM
This is a good game.
I have an English degree and boosted a major publishing house’s share price, and saved a high street retail chain from closure.
If a Mickey Mouse degree lets you create actual Mickey fucking Mouse, it’s probably easily as good “for the economy” as business studies.
I have an English degree and boosted a major publishing house’s share price, and saved a high street retail chain from closure.
If a Mickey Mouse degree lets you create actual Mickey fucking Mouse, it’s probably easily as good “for the economy” as business studies.
Reposted by FQxI
In swamps and marshes, people occasionally see mysterious blue-tinged flashes of light above water, which have commonly been associated with ghosts or spirits. Now physicists may have finally worked out what causes them.
We may finally know what causes will-o’-the-wisps
Mysterious flashes of light seen in swamps and bogs could be caused by burning methane or other gases, ignited by sparks that fly between bubbles in water
www.newscientist.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:28 AM
In swamps and marshes, people occasionally see mysterious blue-tinged flashes of light above water, which have commonly been associated with ghosts or spirits. Now physicists may have finally worked out what causes them.
John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics.
IMAGE CREDIT:
©Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Ill. Niklas Elmehed © Nobel Prize Outreach
IMAGE CREDIT:
©Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Ill. Niklas Elmehed © Nobel Prize Outreach
October 7, 2025 at 10:32 AM
John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics.
IMAGE CREDIT:
©Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Ill. Niklas Elmehed © Nobel Prize Outreach
IMAGE CREDIT:
©Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Ill. Niklas Elmehed © Nobel Prize Outreach
Mike Wright, who since the early 70’s has been recording scientific talks, well before anyone was doing anything like that, resulting in 100,000 hours of recordings.
While a substantial portion is now digitised, some work still needs doing to reach the finishing line.
buff.ly/bTScLaK
While a substantial portion is now digitised, some work still needs doing to reach the finishing line.
buff.ly/bTScLaK
October 3, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Mike Wright, who since the early 70’s has been recording scientific talks, well before anyone was doing anything like that, resulting in 100,000 hours of recordings.
While a substantial portion is now digitised, some work still needs doing to reach the finishing line.
buff.ly/bTScLaK
While a substantial portion is now digitised, some work still needs doing to reach the finishing line.
buff.ly/bTScLaK
FQxI and the Paradox Science Institute supported the recent school in quantum biology in Paraty, Brazil.
FQxI's $53,000 essay competition on the topic of quantum biology asks: How Quantum is Life? Enter before 29 October 2025 for your chance to win!
NEWS: qspace.fqxi.org/news/165309/...
FQxI's $53,000 essay competition on the topic of quantum biology asks: How Quantum is Life? Enter before 29 October 2025 for your chance to win!
NEWS: qspace.fqxi.org/news/165309/...
September 30, 2025 at 4:15 PM
FQxI and the Paradox Science Institute supported the recent school in quantum biology in Paraty, Brazil.
FQxI's $53,000 essay competition on the topic of quantum biology asks: How Quantum is Life? Enter before 29 October 2025 for your chance to win!
NEWS: qspace.fqxi.org/news/165309/...
FQxI's $53,000 essay competition on the topic of quantum biology asks: How Quantum is Life? Enter before 29 October 2025 for your chance to win!
NEWS: qspace.fqxi.org/news/165309/...
(1/5)
The Black Spatula project is just starting out, with a community of contributors all exploring different ways that AI might be brought to bear on error checking. "It's still in the experimental phase, with multiple volunteers collaborating to try out different approaches," says Steve Newman.
The Black Spatula project is just starting out, with a community of contributors all exploring different ways that AI might be brought to bear on error checking. "It's still in the experimental phase, with multiple volunteers collaborating to try out different approaches," says Steve Newman.
September 29, 2025 at 4:15 PM
(1/5)
The Black Spatula project is just starting out, with a community of contributors all exploring different ways that AI might be brought to bear on error checking. "It's still in the experimental phase, with multiple volunteers collaborating to try out different approaches," says Steve Newman.
The Black Spatula project is just starting out, with a community of contributors all exploring different ways that AI might be brought to bear on error checking. "It's still in the experimental phase, with multiple volunteers collaborating to try out different approaches," says Steve Newman.
Johann du Buisson, Jannik Ehrich, mleighton.bsky.social, davidasivak.bsky.social, and John Bechhoefer introduce a one-coordinate test that infers heat flow to flag “demonic” operation. In kinesin simulations tuned to experiments, the motor grows more demon-like as active fluctuations rise.
September 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Johann du Buisson, Jannik Ehrich, mleighton.bsky.social, davidasivak.bsky.social, and John Bechhoefer introduce a one-coordinate test that infers heat flow to flag “demonic” operation. In kinesin simulations tuned to experiments, the motor grows more demon-like as active fluctuations rise.
📢 Good news: We’ve extended the deadline for FQxI’s How Quantum is Life? essay competition.
You now have until October 29, 2025 to submit your entry.
Remember, there's a $53,000 prize pot up for grabs!
All information here qspace.fqxi.org/competitions...
You now have until October 29, 2025 to submit your entry.
Remember, there's a $53,000 prize pot up for grabs!
All information here qspace.fqxi.org/competitions...
September 26, 2025 at 9:08 PM
📢 Good news: We’ve extended the deadline for FQxI’s How Quantum is Life? essay competition.
You now have until October 29, 2025 to submit your entry.
Remember, there's a $53,000 prize pot up for grabs!
All information here qspace.fqxi.org/competitions...
You now have until October 29, 2025 to submit your entry.
Remember, there's a $53,000 prize pot up for grabs!
All information here qspace.fqxi.org/competitions...
FQxI is seeking an Academic Managing Editor for a new project, the Foundational Review Series.
Remote (Global applicants welcome)
Full-Time (will consider alternative working arrangements for the ideal candidate)
~$70,000 – $100,000 based on experience
fqxi.org/academic-man...
Remote (Global applicants welcome)
Full-Time (will consider alternative working arrangements for the ideal candidate)
~$70,000 – $100,000 based on experience
fqxi.org/academic-man...
September 26, 2025 at 3:01 PM
FQxI is seeking an Academic Managing Editor for a new project, the Foundational Review Series.
Remote (Global applicants welcome)
Full-Time (will consider alternative working arrangements for the ideal candidate)
~$70,000 – $100,000 based on experience
fqxi.org/academic-man...
Remote (Global applicants welcome)
Full-Time (will consider alternative working arrangements for the ideal candidate)
~$70,000 – $100,000 based on experience
fqxi.org/academic-man...
Sara Walker and Paul Davies on the physics of life. Our $53,000 quantum biology essay contest asks: How Quantum is Life? qspace.fqxi.org/competitions...
September 23, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Sara Walker and Paul Davies on the physics of life. Our $53,000 quantum biology essay contest asks: How Quantum is Life? qspace.fqxi.org/competitions...