News

UK’s lead in physics healthy but insecure

22 April 2014

The quantity and quality of scientific papers produced by UK physicists indicates that the UK remains in an elite band of knowledge-based economies

Triennial Review supports stability for research councils

17 April 2014

The Institute of Physics (IOP) welcomes the publication of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ (BIS) Triennial Review of the UK’s seven Research Councils.

Philips is to be first Patron Sponsor of International Year of Light

15 April 2014

Lighting solutions company Philips is to be the first Patron Sponsor of the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015).

Volcanic eruptions open lecture series

14 April 2014

Scientists cannot predict exactly when and how a volcano will erupt, but they are getting closer to understanding the factors that drive eruptions, Prof. Heidy Mayer told a lecture audience at the IOP’s London centre on 10 April.

Millennium Technology Prize goes to Stuart Parkin

11 April 2014

The Millennium Technology Prize for 2014 has been awarded to IOP fellow Prof. Stuart Parkin. The 1m prize was given in recognition of his development of a device that has enabled a thousand-fold increase in the storage capacity of magnetic disk drives.

Drayson Foundation donation to tackle the girls in physics conundrum

11 April 2014

A pilot programme designed to counter the factors that turn many schoolgirls away from physics is due to run over the next three years thanks to a generous £201,000 donation from the Drayson Foundation.

3D printing cancer cells to mimic tumours

11 April 2014

A group of researchers in China and the US have successfully created a 3D model of a cancerous tumour using a 3D printer

“RoboClam” hits new depths as robotic digger

10 April 2014

A digging robot inspired by the unique mechanisms employed by the Atlantic razor clam has been created by a group of researchers in the US.

Dangers in A-level sciences grading reform highlighted

9 April 2014

As Ofqual announces the separation of marks for practical science from core A-level grades, a leading partnership of scientific societies, SCORE, which includes the Institute of Physics, has expressed its disappointment and concern.

Public lecture series erupts on to the science scene for 2014

7 April 2014

On Thursday 10 April, Professor Heidy M Mader from the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol will begin the Institute of Physics’ (IOP) 2014 public lecture series, with a talk on the physics of volcanic eruptions

Researchers probe the next generation of 2D material

3 April 2014

As the properties and applications of graphene continue to be explored in laboratories all over the world, a growing number of researchers are looking beyond the one-atom-thick layer of carbon for alternative materials that exhibit similarly captivating properties

In April's Physics World: Should physicists work to the sound of silence?

1 April 2014

In this month’s issue of Physics World, Felicity Mellor, a senior lecturer in science communication at Imperial College London, questions whether the requirement of the modern physicist to collaborate and communicate is preventing the intellectual progress brought about by silence and solitude.

Stark warnings on spending made by STFC’s Science Board

31 March 2014

Serious warnings about the cumulative effects of flat cash funding settlements on UK research were issued in a report by the science board of the Science and Technology Funding Council (STFC), published last week.

IOP asks for volunteers to mentor teachers in Ghana

31 March 2014

The Madrinha Trust is a small charity which tries to make a difference to the lives of young people in the developing world through providing mentors to offer them support and advice in a long-term, though long-distance, relationship

Indian physicist takes new view of gravity on lecture tour

28 March 2014

Nobody understands why the cosmological constant is so tiny, but in an exchange lecture tour organised by the IOP and the Indian Physics Association, Prof. Thanu Padmanabhan has been discussing some new theoretical work that might shed light on the problem.

Stool samples provide marker for bowel disease

26 March 2014

Stool samples provide marker for bowel disease

Groups look at design features of the IOP’s new home in King’s Cross

27 March 2014

Groups look at design features of the IOP’s new home in King’s Cross

Science education experts warn against hasty A-level reform

26 March 2014

With the Ofqual Board due to confirm a selection of A level reforms today, Wednesday 26 March, SCORE, a partnership of leading scientific societies, has written to The Times to “implore” Ofqual not to separate practical marks from core A-level grades.

Science and Society charter launch uses IOP case study

26 March 2014

Science and Society charter launch uses IOP case study

Anti-counterfeit 'fingerprints' made from silver nanowires

21 March 2014

Unique patterns made from tiny, randomly scattered silver nanowires have been created by a group of researchers from South Korea in an attempt to authenticate goods and tackle the growing problem of counterfeiting.

Matthew Malek wins in Light Zone of I’m a Scientist Get Me Out of Here

21 March 2014

School students have chosen Matthew Malek as the winner in the Light Zone of the I’m a Scientist Get Me Out of Here competition today.

Scientists seize chance to quiz MPs on policy

20 March 2014

Early career researchers and school students had the chance to turn the tables on politicians when they grilled MPs at the Voice of the Future 2014 event in parliament yesterday.

Future heat waves pose threat to global food supply

20 March 2014

Heat waves could significantly reduce crop yields and threaten global food supply if climate change is not tackled and reversed.