Discover the physics that matters

Everyday physics

Polarised light and the Brewster law

The Physics behind polarised light and its everyday wonders

Technology

The wonders of semiconductors, part 1

An exploration of the atomic world to uncover what makes semiconductors, the foundations of modern technology, so unique.

Quantum physics

Bohr atomic model

By stating the problem with classical physics clearly, Niels Bohr showed us a new way of looking at the micro-world.

History of physics

What was historic scientific peer review like?

The practice from which modern science gains much of its trust is in fact a recent development

History of physics

The discovery of the electron

How J.J. Thomson’s groundbreaking work revolutionised our understanding of matter

Space

Why the BICEP2 results are important to physicists, part 2

How physicists use BICEP2, a telescope in the remote South Pole, to study polarisation of CMBR; and how some believe it should be verified first.

Space

LIGO detects gravitational waves

LIGO made the first direct detection of gravitational waves, but what is LIGO, what are gravitational waves and why does this matter?

Space

How to fight asteroids

An asteroid has hit the Earth before and may hit it again with devastating consequences: figuring out how we can fight one is a very real problem physicists are trying to solve

Editorial

The theorising and discovery of black holes: the 2020 Physics Nobel

With increasing evidence being gathered about their existence, the 2020 physics Nobel finally recognised work done on black holes—but too late for Hawking.

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