Physics Today
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The world's most popular physics magazine.
physicstoday.aip.org
physicstoday.aip.org
Seismic monitoring stations can be used to detect turbulence inside hurricanes. The data can also help refine models used for storm prediction. #climatescience
Earthquake detectors measure hurricane turbulence
Seismic and acoustic data can be used to understand atmospheric energy exchanges occurring just above the surface.
physicstoday.aip.org
September 16, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Seismic monitoring stations can be used to detect turbulence inside hurricanes. The data can also help refine models used for storm prediction. #climatescience
@dkspaulding.bsky.social’s shock-wave studies on minerals to understand planetary formation had significant overlap with research on stockpile stewardship of nuclear weapons. Now he applies that knowledge at @ucs.org to work toward nuclear disarmament. #whatcanphysicistsdo
Dylan Spaulding merges science and politics to push for nuclear peace
physicstoday.aip.org
September 15, 2026 at 1:03 PM
@dkspaulding.bsky.social’s shock-wave studies on minerals to understand planetary formation had significant overlap with research on stockpile stewardship of nuclear weapons. Now he applies that knowledge at @ucs.org to work toward nuclear disarmament. #whatcanphysicistsdo
80 years after the US first detonated a nuclear weapon in the Marshall Islands, parts of the archipelago remain contaminated. Historian M. X. Mitchell speaks with Benetick Kabua Maddison, executive director of @meinonprofit.bsky.social, about the legacy of US operations in the islands. #histSTM
The 80-year nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands
An interview with a prominent member of the Marshallese diaspora delves into the ongoing impact of aboveground US nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific archipelago.
physicstoday.aip.org
September 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM
80 years after the US first detonated a nuclear weapon in the Marshall Islands, parts of the archipelago remain contaminated. Historian M. X. Mitchell speaks with Benetick Kabua Maddison, executive director of @meinonprofit.bsky.social, about the legacy of US operations in the islands. #histSTM
Reposted by Physics Today
Reposted by Physics Today
Interesting article in Physics Today about NSF grantmaking trends for recent years and the present one. I’m grateful that US taxpayer support through NSF has funded high-risk high-reward work. It’s nice to see that photo of LIGO’s test mass suspension, now at the Smithsonian.
With less than one month to go in the federal fiscal year, NSF has awarded 31% fewer grants in its math and physical sciences directorate than the average for 2000–24.
https://physicstoday.aip.org/news/the-shrinking-nsf-support-for-the-physical-sciences?utm_campaign=PT_social
https://physicstoday.aip.org/news/the-shrinking-nsf-support-for-the-physical-sciences?utm_campaign=PT_social
The shrinking NSF support for the physical sciences
The agency has awarded fewer grants in the physical sciences this year than most years in its history.
physicstoday.aip.org
September 11, 2026 at 6:33 PM
Interesting article in Physics Today about NSF grantmaking trends for recent years and the present one. I’m grateful that US taxpayer support through NSF has funded high-risk high-reward work. It’s nice to see that photo of LIGO’s test mass suspension, now at the Smithsonian.
Former fighter pilot Missy Cummings witnessed accidents in aviation caused by human–machine miscommunication. She now studies how other modes of transportation, like self-driving cars, can avoid future accidents.
Q&A: Missy Cummings strives to make self-driving cars safer
The former fighter pilot wants the designers of autonomous systems to heed the hard lessons from aviation.
physicstoday.aip.org
September 11, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Former fighter pilot Missy Cummings witnessed accidents in aviation caused by human–machine miscommunication. She now studies how other modes of transportation, like self-driving cars, can avoid future accidents.
Reposted by Physics Today
Glad to work with @aip.bsky.social to highlight the dramatic loss of support for physics from NSF this year. Dig into the numbers at grantwitness.org/nsf 🧪
With less than one month to go in the federal fiscal year, NSF has awarded 31% fewer grants in its math and physical sciences directorate than the average for 2000–24.
https://physicstoday.aip.org/news/the-shrinking-nsf-support-for-the-physical-sciences?utm_campaign=PT_social
https://physicstoday.aip.org/news/the-shrinking-nsf-support-for-the-physical-sciences?utm_campaign=PT_social
The shrinking NSF support for the physical sciences
The agency has awarded fewer grants in the physical sciences this year than most years in its history.
physicstoday.aip.org
September 10, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Glad to work with @aip.bsky.social to highlight the dramatic loss of support for physics from NSF this year. Dig into the numbers at grantwitness.org/nsf 🧪
Reposted by Physics Today
M. X. Mitchell, author of UNSETTLING SOVEREIGNTIES, interviews Benetick Kabua Maddison about the ongoing impact of aboveground US nuclear weapons testing in the Marshall Islands. Read at @physicstoday.aip.org. buff.ly/eLaoW83
The 80-year nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands
An interview with a prominent member of the Marshallese diaspora delves into the ongoing impact of aboveground US nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific archipelago.
physicstoday.aip.org
September 11, 2026 at 3:22 PM
M. X. Mitchell, author of UNSETTLING SOVEREIGNTIES, interviews Benetick Kabua Maddison about the ongoing impact of aboveground US nuclear weapons testing in the Marshall Islands. Read at @physicstoday.aip.org. buff.ly/eLaoW83
With less than one month to go in the federal fiscal year, NSF has awarded 31% fewer grants in its math and physical sciences directorate than the average for 2000–24.
https://physicstoday.aip.org/news/the-shrinking-nsf-support-for-the-physical-sciences?utm_campaign=PT_social
https://physicstoday.aip.org/news/the-shrinking-nsf-support-for-the-physical-sciences?utm_campaign=PT_social
The shrinking NSF support for the physical sciences
The agency has awarded fewer grants in the physical sciences this year than most years in its history.
physicstoday.aip.org
September 10, 2026 at 8:55 PM
With less than one month to go in the federal fiscal year, NSF has awarded 31% fewer grants in its math and physical sciences directorate than the average for 2000–24.
https://physicstoday.aip.org/news/the-shrinking-nsf-support-for-the-physical-sciences?utm_campaign=PT_social
https://physicstoday.aip.org/news/the-shrinking-nsf-support-for-the-physical-sciences?utm_campaign=PT_social
Global oceans abound with small-scale temperature fronts that exchange energy with the air and alter atmospheric wind patterns. A new study sheds light on how the fronts can affect larger-scale climate processes. #climatescience
Kilometer-scale oceanic warm fronts can rapidly alter the atmosphere
Data from a multi-instrument observation campaign shed light on fine-scale, fast-changing air–sea interactions that have implications for scientists’ understanding of larger-scale climate dynamics.
physicstoday.aip.org
September 10, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Global oceans abound with small-scale temperature fronts that exchange energy with the air and alter atmospheric wind patterns. A new study sheds light on how the fronts can affect larger-scale climate processes. #climatescience
As the NIST research reactor starts back up, the user community is excited about having more neutrons for scattering experiments but also worried that low funding will prevent their full exploitation.
NIST neutron source restarts after prolonged closure
The user community is cheering the availability of more neutrons for scattering experiments while also worrying that a budget shortfall will prevent their full exploitation.
physicstoday.aip.org
September 9, 2026 at 2:37 PM
As the NIST research reactor starts back up, the user community is excited about having more neutrons for scattering experiments but also worried that low funding will prevent their full exploitation.
A collaboration of three companies has demonstrated robust quantum encryption—incorporating both quantum cryptographic keys and a next-generation encryption scheme—over a high-speed internet link while maintaining the network’s regular commercial traffic. #quantum
Robust quantum encryption demonstrated over high-speed internet network
Over a fiber-optic line with state-of-the-art throughput, light carrying the classical information of internet users was joined by photons serving as quantum cryptographic keys.
physicstoday.aip.org
September 8, 2026 at 1:26 PM
A collaboration of three companies has demonstrated robust quantum encryption—incorporating both quantum cryptographic keys and a next-generation encryption scheme—over a high-speed internet link while maintaining the network’s regular commercial traffic. #quantum
Rodrigo Araiza Bravo works as a public servant for the state of Illinois, where he is helping launch a research park for quantum and microelectronics. #whatcanphysicistsdo
Rodrigo Araiza Bravo is coordinating the creation of a state-funded research park
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physicstoday.aip.org
September 4, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Rodrigo Araiza Bravo works as a public servant for the state of Illinois, where he is helping launch a research park for quantum and microelectronics. #whatcanphysicistsdo
When the Sun sends streams of charged particles toward Earth, the resulting geomagnetic storms can cause power grid failure, disruptions to GPS and global communication, and increased radiation exposure. A new analysis reveals that such storms could get more intense than experts had expected.
Geomagnetic storms could get worse than we thought
What had appeared to be an upper limit to the strength of the events is an artifact of measurement uncertainty and statistical bias. Those lessons could be relevant for data analyses in other discipli...
physicstoday.aip.org
September 3, 2026 at 12:58 PM
When the Sun sends streams of charged particles toward Earth, the resulting geomagnetic storms can cause power grid failure, disruptions to GPS and global communication, and increased radiation exposure. A new analysis reveals that such storms could get more intense than experts had expected.
Gravitons are the hypothesized quanta of gravitational energy. Their direct detection has long been considered to be practically impossible because gravity is such a weak force. But with recent advances in experimental capabilities, graviton detection may be a realistic goal. #gravitation
Demystifying graviton detection
Detecting quantum particles of gravity was long considered hopeless. A new perspective, which takes advantage of quantum technologies, suggests that an experimental realization may be closer than prev...
physicstoday.aip.org
September 2, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Gravitons are the hypothesized quanta of gravitational energy. Their direct detection has long been considered to be practically impossible because gravity is such a weak force. But with recent advances in experimental capabilities, graviton detection may be a realistic goal. #gravitation
@shanpalus.bsky.social beelined to science writing; she liked physics and figured that a degree in it would be good for her career. That strategy paid off: She’s now a features editor at @slate.com.
Shannon Palus edits articles about science and more at Slate
physicstoday.aip.org
September 1, 2026 at 10:26 PM
@shanpalus.bsky.social beelined to science writing; she liked physics and figured that a degree in it would be good for her career. That strategy paid off: She’s now a features editor at @slate.com.
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is built from a donated spy satellite. The donation is not as unusual as it sounds. #NASARoman
The Roman Space Telescope isn’t the only US observatory built from spy tech
The newest spacecraft from NASA started as a spy telescope. It’s just one example of the intelligence world offering resources to astronomers.
physicstoday.aip.org
August 28, 2026 at 7:03 PM
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is built from a donated spy satellite. The donation is not as unusual as it sounds. #NASARoman
To simulate such phenomena as the scrambling of information inside a black hole, researchers need simply to shake an optical lattice. The technique could provide a pathway to simulating a prominent model used to study quantum chaos. #chaos #optics
A shaken lattice of ultracold atoms can simulate extreme quantum chaos
Although atoms in an optical lattice typically have only local interactions, periodically shaking them can effectively induce random long-range couplings.
physicstoday.aip.org
August 27, 2026 at 7:21 PM
In the 1990s, researchers figured out how to fully characterize a quantum state and helped pave the way for the now-booming field of quantum information science. Michael Raymer explains how they did it. #quantum
How and why to measure a quantum state
With quantum state tomography, researchers in the booming field of quantum information science are able to characterize essential operations and devices.
physicstoday.aip.org
August 26, 2026 at 9:09 PM
In the 1990s, researchers figured out how to fully characterize a quantum state and helped pave the way for the now-booming field of quantum information science. Michael Raymer explains how they did it. #quantum
Using the world’s largest solar telescope, researchers captured the highest-resolution photo to date of the Sun’s surface. The observations may shed light on the source of solar behaviors, such as coronal mass ejections. #BackScatter #astronomy
A close-up of the Sun
physicstoday.aip.org
August 24, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Using the world’s largest solar telescope, researchers captured the highest-resolution photo to date of the Sun’s surface. The observations may shed light on the source of solar behaviors, such as coronal mass ejections. #BackScatter #astronomy
Greg Stasiewicz stays connected to the physics community in his behind-the-scenes role as digital product manager at @physicstoday.aip.org.
Greg Stasiewicz optimizes Physics Today 's online presence
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physicstoday.aip.org
August 21, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Greg Stasiewicz stays connected to the physics community in his behind-the-scenes role as digital product manager at @physicstoday.aip.org.
Reposted by Physics Today
"...Mothers’ likelihood of being employed in academia 8 years after they became parents was 29% lower than the likelihood if they hadn’t had children. The mothers who stayed in academia were 23% less likely to obtain tenure 8 years after having their first child than had they not become parents." 👩🏻🔬🧪
Study of Danish academics reveals child penalty
Academics in the child-friendly nation face career disadvantages, such as lower employment rates, after becoming parents.
physicstoday.aip.org
August 17, 2026 at 4:28 PM
"...Mothers’ likelihood of being employed in academia 8 years after they became parents was 29% lower than the likelihood if they hadn’t had children. The mothers who stayed in academia were 23% less likely to obtain tenure 8 years after having their first child than had they not become parents." 👩🏻🔬🧪
Reposted by Physics Today
Even in an apparently egalitarian country like Denmark with generous parental leave entitlements, having children leads to significant detriment for academic mothers, somewhat smaller effect on fathers who take parental leave physicstoday.aip.org/news/study-o...)
Study of Danish academics reveals child penalty
Academics in the child-friendly nation face career disadvantages, such as lower employment rates, after becoming parents.
physicstoday.aip.org
August 17, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Even in an apparently egalitarian country like Denmark with generous parental leave entitlements, having children leads to significant detriment for academic mothers, somewhat smaller effect on fathers who take parental leave physicstoday.aip.org/news/study-o...)
When Katherine Quinn developed doubts about staying in academia, she sought an engaging career that would both use her physics and pay well. She’s now a data scientist at @csetgeorgetown.bsky.social, a think tank that focuses on policy analysis. #whatcanphysicistsdo
Katherine Quinn teases out trends in global research and innovation
physicstoday.aip.org
August 17, 2026 at 6:40 PM
When Katherine Quinn developed doubts about staying in academia, she sought an engaging career that would both use her physics and pay well. She’s now a data scientist at @csetgeorgetown.bsky.social, a think tank that focuses on policy analysis. #whatcanphysicistsdo
Having children is increasingly being recognized as a dominant driver of gender inequality. A study on academic careers in Denmark found evidence of child penalties despite the country’s paid parental leave and subsidized childcare.
Study of Danish academics reveals child penalty
Academics in the child-friendly nation face career disadvantages, such as lower employment rates, after becoming parents.
physicstoday.aip.org
August 13, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Having children is increasingly being recognized as a dominant driver of gender inequality. A study on academic careers in Denmark found evidence of child penalties despite the country’s paid parental leave and subsidized childcare.