News

 

Welcome to the Institute of Physics news pages. In this section you will find the latest news from both the Institute itself and also from the national and international physics community.

Below are the news stories from the past 4 weeks.

Prof. Alan Guth, 2009's Isaac Newton Medal winner

Alan Guth’s lecture online for all

Following the success of this year’s Isaac Newton Lecture, given by the architect of the inflationary universe model, Professor Alan Guth from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Institute of Physics (IOP) is proud to host an online version of the lecture for all to see at www.iop.org

 
 
 
Institute of Physics News
Universities announced for HEFCE’s national STEM programme

Six universities will work as part of a major initiative to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) throughout England and Wales

 
Blood cells
Magnetic nanoparticles to simultaneously diagnose, monitor and treat

Whether it’s magnetic nanoparticles (mNPs) giving an army of ‘therapeutically armed’ white blood cells direction to invade a deadly tumour’s territory, or the use of mNPs to target specific nerve channels and induce nerve-led behaviour (such as the life-dependant thumping of our hearts), mNPs have come a long way in the past decade

 
 
Engineering
A single voice on UK engineering education

A new independent organisation has been established for the first time to advise Government and the devolved assemblies on engineering education across the UK

 
Institute of Physics News
Response to new framework for UK’s universities

The Institute of Physics (IOP) has responded to the First Secretary of State, Lord Mandelson’s, new framework for the future success of higher education. The new framework, entitled Higher Ambitions, was unveiled in the House of Lords today, Tuesday, 3 November

 
 
NASA
Has R2D2 replaced Major Tom for good?

As Imperial College London counts down to a debate on the pros and cons of human space flight, the two panellists write exclusively for Physics World, presenting their arguments for and against manned or robotic space missions

 
Institute of Physics News
“I just want an energy plan that works,” says chief scientific adviser

Powering the UK using its own renewables would take up an area of land comparable to the size of the country, according to the new chief scientific adviser to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

 
 
A day in the life of a sound engineer: IOP launches new activity for schools

A new school-based activity, Ashfield Music Festival, gives students the chance to find out more about the practical applications of physics by trying out life as a sound or lighting engineer working at a music festival

 
Institute of Physics News
SET for BRITAIN

IOP is again supporting SET for BRITAIN this year

 
 
What’s physics got to do with it?

‘How do you make the perfect cuppa?’ and ‘Which biscuit will last the longest in the ultimate dunking challenge?’ are just two of the questions that pub and bakery customers will encounter on their beer mats and sandwich bags from today

 
Customs inspection sign
0.2 second test for explosive liquids

Since a failed terrorist attack in 2006, plane passengers have not been able to carry bottles of liquid through security at airports, leaving some parched at the airport and others having expensive toiletries confiscated, but work by a group of physicists in Germany is paving the way to eliminate this necessary nuisance

 
 
Prof. Alan Guth, 2009's Isaac Newton Medal winner
Alan Guth gives Newton Lecture 2009

The inventor of the inflationary universe model and this year’s Institute of Physics (IOP)’s Isaac Newton Medal winner, Professor Alan Guth from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, gave the Newton Lecture 2009 on Tuesday, 13 October

 
 
 

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Artwork | Image by Fred Swist