Physics World Stories Podcast

Two researchers who have switched sides in this heated cosmic debate

With its wartime origins and iconic facilities, radio astronomy has always inspired curious tinkerers

Chad Orzel discusses the pivotal breakthroughs in the history of laser cooling

A conversation with Kai Bird, co-author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Robert Oppenheimer

Hear from two physical scientists applying their knowledge to create a more equitable world

Harnessing energy directly in space and from the ocean flow

What the new discovery of gravitational wave imprints in pulsar signals can reveal about the cosmos

Demand for computer power continues to soar, but can the hardware keep up?

Large language models are changing the way physics is taught and practised

Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell won a $3m prize and is giving it all to physics PhD students from under-represented groups

Circular economies and alternative lithium sources could reduce the environmental impacts

Music generated by quantum computers is intriguing from musical and scientific perspectives

Astrophysicist’s story shows the power science and human connection

ESA launches parastronaut feasibility study to make spaceflight more inclusive

Our traditional end-of-year episode will give you some holiday reading ideas

The 2022 Nobel Prize for Physics celebrated research that is underpinning a tech transformation

Investigating how sporting events can become more sustainable without losing their magic

Political wrangling over the UK’s status in the Horizon Europe research programme leaves scientists in limbo

Ray’s eclectic work is a treasure trove for scientists

Reflecting on that historic day, 10 years later

Bioglass can heal our bones while fending off harmful microbes

More efficient coding and quantifying climate impacts are among the solutions

Physics World Stories examines the recent breakthrough at the Joint European Torus experiment

From spiderweb harmonies to a viral hit inspired by the COVID-19 spike protein

Now the mission has reached its destination, what lies ahead for the science programme?

Some of the year’s best popular-science books and a Stephen Hawking quiz

High-spec microscope is helping malaria diagnosis in Tanzania

Astronomers are looking for the technosignatures of advanced civilizations

Pioneers of free and open-source software discuss opportunities and challenges for science

Science-themed vacations are gaining in popularity: hear from people who have caught the geek travel bug

Profiling NASA’s two upcoming asteroid missions, DART and Psyche

Carlo Rovelli discusses his new book and the role of philosophical thought in physics

Physics World Stories investigates ethical issues at the heart of artificial intelligence

A detailed look at the two recent results from CERN and Fermilab

Exploring the legacy and the future of the Arecibo telescope in Puerto Rico

Exploring the scientific goals of one of the three missions to arrive at Mars this month

How the particle-physics community is adapting to COVID lockdowns

Looking back at some of the year’s most memorable books and media

In addition to the fun, LEGO can be an effective teaching tool

Exploring what the first quantum computers might achieve, plus a preview of Quantum 2020

Exploring the story behind the detection of phosphene in the Venusian atmosphere

Exploring the consequences of removing humans from the driving seat

Fleets of tiny probes might discover what’s lurking at the edge of our solar system

Exploring the variety of careers at the Christie Hospital

Oceanographers are not sure where all the plastics are ending up in the world’s oceans

How the pandemic is affecting the present and how it might permanently change the way physics is done

Taking a closer look at the reality of life as a researcher

Find out why Bristol’s Old Vic and Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall sound so great

Physics World’s book of the year revealed and the runners up discussed – listen to the December episode of the Physics World Stories podcast

Looking behind the scenes of Interstellar, Contact and The Martian

The opportunities of doing physics experiments on the ISS and other microgravity facilities

Exploring the technology and economics of electric cars

How can scientists reduce the climate impact of their labs without compromising on the quality of their research? Andrew Glester investigates

The Physics World Stories podcast explore what’s next for manned and robotic space travel

The Physics World Stories podcast investigates some of the lesser known stories from the Apollo era

Physics World Stories explores this feat of science and engineering and the EHT’s prospects for further breakthroughs

Emerging technologies shaping our connected world

Fifth episode in mini-series revisits the birth of the Web and the challenges it now faces

Fourth episode in mini-series tracks the hype, frustration and renewed hope for this field

Third episode in mini-series explores the prospects for fusion as a viable energy source

Tune in to the December Physics World Stories podcast to hear from the winner of our 2018 Book of the Year award, as well as catch up with previous winners

Second episode in mini-series explores the future of astronomy

First episode in mini-series explores the future of particle physics

Talks, plays, poetry and many more innovative approaches

How we might wean ourselves off high-carbon transport

Exploring the emerging technologies based on quantum physics

Asteroid mining, Brexit impacts and the UK’s first spaceport

Nobel laureate Mario Molina and Lorraine Whitmarsh discuss climate politics

From tackling oil spills with lotus leaves to mangrove-inspired coastal defences

Polymath Nathan Myhrvold on why he disagreed with his friend Stephen Hawking

Recent private space launches have provoked public awe but also a few dissenting voices

Physics World journalists discuss what excites them about the year ahead

Physics World book experts Matin Durrani and Tushna Commissariat discuss the themes and trends that surround some of the best popular-physics books of 2017, before announcing the winner of our annual book award

Recent discoveries usher in a new era of multimessenger astronomy

How the historic Lovell telescope was transformed into a multimedia art installation

Exploring the gender issues raised in Angela Saini’s book Inferior

Performers describe the opportunities and challenges of making science funny

The fascinating things, and the limits, of what science can tell us about music

Exploring the issues behind Dave Levitan’s timely new book Not a Scientist

How bees use internal compasses to find their way

What we know so far about the recently discovered Earth-like planets

VR app lets you explore the inner workings of the MicroBooNE neutrino detector

Potential power supply for deep-space missions

Physics World book experts Tushna Commissariat and Margaret Harris discuss a few of the best popular-physics books of 2016 and announce the winner of the magazine’s annual book award

Hear what it's like to do particle physics without sight

Hamish Johnston visits Beijing on a hunt for the elusive Weyl fermions

Ten years after his infamous anti-string-theory book, Peter Woit thinks the subject is more tangled than ever

A journey into the remarkable mind of the 13th-century monk, scholar and proto-cosmologist Robert Grosseteste

Recordings of songs and speech restored using technology from particle physics

g-ASTRONOMY merges cosmology with fine dining

First detected 60 years ago, neutrinos provide a window to physics beyond the Standard Model

Feedback and reaction to the March 2016 issue of the magazine on diversity in physics

Make the most of your next conference with these tips from networking experts

The life and legacy of Mary Somerville, who will appear on the new RBS £10

The working lives of scientists and musicians are more similar than you might think

Physics World editor Matin Durrani and reviews editor Margaret Harris discuss some of the year's best popular-physics books and select a winner from a strong shortlist

Lewis Dartnell discusses the search for life on Mars and what forms it might take

Michael Banks visits the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source to find out how the lab is looking to attract more users from industry

César Hidalgo explains why information can help us to understand economics