Science

Google’s Willow quantum computer Google Quantum AI A quantum computer capable of breaking the encryption that secures the internet now seems to be just around the corner. Stunning revelations from two research teams outline how it could happen, with one suggesting that the current largest quantum machine is already more than halfway towards the size

Counting photons could redefine the future of CT imaging – Physics World Skip to main content Discover more from Physics World Copyright © 2026 by IOP Publishing Ltd and individual contributors Read the original article here

The future of space warfare will be determined by the speed of decision. As satellite constellations proliferate and adversaries field increasingly sophisticated counterspace capabilities, the ability to sense, analyze and act faster than an opponent will dictate who controls the space domain. Artificial intelligence is already improving complex military decision-making. But agentic AI — a

When it comes to particle physics, Tova Holmes has been there, done that and got the T-shirt – in fact, she designed the T-shirt herself. It all started back in 2022, when she and a few colleagues arrived at a meeting of particle physicists determined to make the case for developing an entirely new kind

Exploring the astrophysics behind Project Hail Mary – Physics World Skip to main content Discover more from Physics World Copyright © 2026 by IOP Publishing Ltd and individual contributors Read the original article here

WASHINGTON — Rocket Lab said has secured approval from German authorities to acquire laser communications firm Mynaric, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for a deal that had faced prolonged scrutiny over national security concerns. The Long Beach, California-based launch and satellite manufacturer said on March 30 that Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Food prices are expected to rise later this year dpa picture alliance/Alamy Global food prices hit their highest levels on record after the 1970s energy crisis, triggered by conflict in the Middle East, once inflation is corrected for. Could we be headed for a new record – the worst food shock ever – as fuel,

Magnetic microrobot swarm moves objects with water – Physics World Skip to main content Discover more from Physics World Copyright © 2026 by IOP Publishing Ltd and individual contributors Read the original article here

WASHINGTON — The rapid growth of commercial Earth observation satellites and artificial intelligence tools is giving defense and intelligence agencies access to a new kind of intelligence product: fused data from multiple sensors designed to deliver insights about what’s happening in the world. But turning that concept into something operational remains difficult. At the Satellite

Sir Anthony Leggett was a giant in the field of quantum physics University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign/L. Brian Stauffer In my first year of graduate school, I briefly shared an office with a quiet, older graduate student. When we finally managed some chit-chat, I learned that he was “working on theory of glasses with Tony.” Two

Magnetic friction defies centuries-old law – Physics World Skip to main content Discover more from Physics World Copyright © 2026 by IOP Publishing Ltd and individual contributors Read the original article here

WASHINGTON — Starfish Space has changed plans for a docking demonstration mission after its original partner backed out. In a March 26 statement, Starfish said it changed the destination for Otter Pup 2, a spacecraft launched in June 2025 to demonstrate the ability to dock with an unprepared satellite. “In late 2025, Otter Pup 2’s

Luca Parmitano during a spacewalk on 9 July 2013 ESA/NASA When the water reached my face, it spread over my nose and up into my nostrils in an instant. I was almost blinded, I couldn’t hear anything and I couldn’t breathe through my nose. I already knew I needed to reach the airlock and get

Quiz of the week: how many antiprotons did CERN transport by truck? – Physics World Skip to main content Discover more from Physics World Copyright © 2026 by IOP Publishing Ltd and individual contributors Read the original article here

March 27, 2026 – Washington, D.C.—The Commercial Space Federation (CSF) is pleased to welcome Astrolab and Zeno Power, two innovative companies advancing planetary mobility and reliable energy in extreme environments. Together, their work supports critical missions on Earth and in space while helping to expand the capabilities and resilience of the commercial space economy. Astrolab:

The number of data centres is rapidly increasing JIM LO SCALZO/EPA/Shutterstock Data centres built to power AIs produce so much heat that they can raise the surface temperature of the land around them by several degrees – creating so-called data centre heat islands that may already be affecting up to 340 million people. The number

Researchers from China dominate IOPP outstanding reviewer awards – Physics World Skip to main content Discover more from Physics World Copyright © 2026 by IOP Publishing Ltd and individual contributors Read the original article here

Machines can help spot mathematical errors Alamy Stock Photo A computer language created to spot errors in mathematical theorems has uncovered a fundamental error in a widely cited physics paper for the first time. The researcher behind the discovery says it is the first physics paper he has analysed in this way, which raises a