The year ahead in physics 2025

2024 was once again a busy year in the world of physics and in the sciences. There were potentially society-transforming developments in artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and quantum, to name but a few.

A duo of machine-learning pioneers, John Hopfield and the so-called Godfather of AI, Geoffrey Hinton, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.

The Physics Breakthrough of the Year from Physics World went to two teams of quantum computing innovators for their work on quantum error correction, a crucial step in showing that the technology can work in the real world.

And now the importance of quantum is being recognised by Unesco, which has made 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) – the IOP is its UK coordinator on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

So what’s in store in quantum and elsewhere in our sector across the next 12 months?

Quantum

IYQ – to mark 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics by Werner Heisenberg – launches at Unesco’s Paris headquarters on 4 February, followed by a host of worldwide events to raise awareness of quantum, such as the presentation-packed June workshop on the island of Helgoland (where Heisenberg made his breakthrough), and the activity will culminate in a three-part IOP celebration in November.

AI

Researchers in Israel and China recently found that large language models (LLMs) of generative AI, such as ChatGPT, could produce a huge growth in electronic waste by the end of the decade; discarded chips and batteries potentially dump toxic materials. LLMs also require a great deal of energy to run – some of the biggest names with AI products, including Google and Microsoft, are considering the viability of building new nuclear reactors to help meet demand.

Perhaps with this in mind, the IOP’s Al and Physics impact project pathfinder, in collaboration with the Business Innovation and Growth Group, will see an aptly titled debate in March, ‘AI: Dystopia or Utopia’, plus the launch of an IOP white paper on the topic. March also sees the return of the Alan Turing Institute’s AI UK conference.

The IOP has also welcomed the government’s 50-point AI Opportunities Action Plan while urging that the UK’s physics skills base is fully tapped into.

The environment/climate change

2025 marks 30 years since the first United Nations Cop summit and climate activists will be hoping tangible progress is made at this year’s event, taking place in Belém, Brazil, in November.

In the same vein, the next set of findings from the IOP’s Physics Powering the Green Economy impact project are due to be published in spring and follow on from the first report, which set out the central role that physics innovation and physicists have played and will continue to play in realising the green economy. For this second phase, the IOP is carrying out technology assessments with physics community experts on small module reactors, photovoltaic solar tech, battery tech and more. The report will help feed in community views to inform the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and research funder thinking.

Space

The IOP will further its efforts to help create a UK space science strategy as part of the Space Science and Technology impact project. The project has so far looked at the breadth of industries, from agriculture to transport, that are underpinned by the physics associated with space science and tech. Its report is due in the first half of the year.

Nasa’s James Webb Space Telescope is set to continue to provide spectacular images of distant galaxies and help fill in the blanks in our knowledge of the early universe.

Metamaterials

Another of the IOP’s impact project pathfinders is attempting to accelerate the commercialisation of materials with 3D structures that have, according to project partner the UK Metamaterials Network, “a response or function due to the collective effect of meta-atom elements that is not possible to achieve conventionally with any individual constituent material”.

Put more simply, they are artificial materials with innovative elements and potential real-world uses in everything from the aerospace industry to battlefield equipment.

The IOP is preparing to publish its white paper on this.

Physics prizes

The Nobel Prize in Physics is as always set for an October announcement, while nominations will shortly open for the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, which in 2024 went to John Cardy and Alexander Zamolodchikov for their work around quantum field theory. Winners of the IOP Awards (for which certain nominations are now open) will be revealed in autumn.

Physics education trends

Girls and other groups continue to be underrepresented in physics classes (even though more students overall are studying physics A-level), while efforts continue apace to address a shortfall in physics teachers and poor trainee retention, issues the IOP will continue to work hard to help resolve in 2025.

All these situations will no doubt change and there are sure to be surprises. Keep reading the IOP website this year to stay on top of the latest news.