Many children are naturally curious and have vivid imaginations – two qualities that make them well-suited for careers in physics. So why do many children eschew science when they are asked what they want to be when they grow up? That is a research interest of Carol Davenport at the UK’s Northumbria University, who talks about how to broaden the career aspirations of children in this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast.
The move to greener sources of energy should create many new job opportunities for future physicists. Heat pumps offer a much more energy efficient way to heat and cool buildings, and Physics World columnist James McKenzie explains how the technology could play an important role in helping the UK meet its commitment to a net-zero-carbon economy by 2050. He explains how heat pumps work and describes what it is like to live in a house that is heated by the technology.