Editorials in 2024

From soft matter models to plasma generation, physics offers a wide array of tools to optimize the way we prepare and preserve our food.

The 2024 Nobel prize for Physics was awarded for foundational contributions to the development of artificial neural networks. The award reflects a shift in how we understand boundaries between scientific fields — or whether such boundaries are still useful at all.

Adapting an experimental tool for use in a new field can be as powerful as inventing a new technique.

PhD students can face many challenges, such as a lack of confidence in their newly acquired skills or the uncertainty about which career path to choose. We highlight some ways to empower students in their doctoral journey.

In light of the recent Olympic and upcoming Paralympic Summer Games in Paris, we take a closer look at the physics of sports and how it helps athletes improve their performance.

This year marks the hundredth anniversary of Satyendra Nath Bose’s paper that stimulated the study of quantum statistics. We take this opportunity to celebrate the physics of bosons.

Construction of the European Spallation Source began 10 years ago. Upon completion, its advanced technology and sustainable design will herald a new era for neutron scattering experiments.

Social activities are common in many research groups, often based around outdoor activities such as hiking. We argue that there are more inclusive ways to bring a team together.

Eighty years on from the publication of Erwin Schrödinger’s interdisciplinary analysis on the origin of order in living organisms — What is Life? — we look at how physicists and biologists are approaching the topic today.

This month in Nature Physics, we publish a Focus issue that highlights the importance of physics education research.

Despite the essential support they provide to successful research projects, the contributions of laboratory technicians often remain undervalued. We take a moment to appreciate their efforts.

Two-dimensional crystals have revolutionized fundamental research across a staggering range of disciplines. We take stock of the progress gained after twenty years of work.