The week in physics: Joining a startup; An extragalactic planet; Iodine for electric propulsion

An x-ray observatory spots a possible planet in another galaxy Forward this email  View in your browser THE WEEK IN PHYSICS: 29 NOVEMBER–3 DECEMBER An x-ray observatory spots a possible planet in another galaxy Even if the discovery is never confirmed, its method may spawn a new generation of exoplanet searches. R. Mark Wilson Early-career Q&A: Gar-Wing Truong on joining a startup Leaving the academic track to work at a fledgling company is a risky career move. But it offered this optical scientist a chance to pursue many of his career goals. Liam Conlon Webinar LIVE WEBINAR: New Standard in Single Photon Detection Single Quantum develops the world's fastest and most sensitive single photon detectors limited only by the laws of physics. In this webinar, we will introduce the operation principle of SNSPDs (superconducting nanowire single photon detectors) and present the newest developments of their technology. Register now. FROM THE VAULT: November 1999 On stickiness The behavior of tacky materials is difficult to quantify, involving as it does such dynamic phenomena as meniscus instability, cavitation and the formation of filaments. Cyprien Gay and Ludwik Leibler Webinar LIVE WEBINAR: MICROWAVE FRUIT PHOTONICS AND THE SHAPE OF WATER Pairs of grapes and other similarly sized fruit dimers will often spark in a household microwave oven. Explanations abound, but recent research is showing that simply treating the objects as optically-resonant spheres of water yields surprisingly rich physics, with broad photonics applications. Register now. For an efficient electric propulsion system, use iodine In a space-based demonstration, the thrust generated by electrically accelerated iodine outperforms that of xenon, the industry standard. Alex Lopatka Lawrence Livermore's latest attempts at ignition fall short Researchers investigate the variables that have prevented them from replicating their near-ignition performance of a few months ago. David Kramer Advertisement The Only Grad Guide You Will Ever Need The Student Guide to Grad School in Physics, Astronomy & Related Fields is here! Read this new magazine from GradSchoolShopper to get advice from real students, faculty and leadership at the Society of Physics Students. Then use GradSchoolShopper.com to explore hundreds of grad programs exclusively in the physical sciences! Read the issue now. FROM THE DECEMBER MAGAZINE Subsurface imaging shows scale of the tragedy of Indigenous children Archaeologists and geophysicists in Canada are trying to pinpoint the signatures of unmarked burials by using geophysical methods in varied terrains. Rachel Berkowitz Get notified about our webinars and whitepapers Sign up Get Physics Today delivered for just $25 per year Subscribe FEATURED JOBS > Senior Systems Physicist  |  RefleXion > Postdoctoral Researcher in Condensed Matter Theory  |  The University of Alabama/Physics & Astronomy Dept. Are you hiring? Do you want your job to appear here? Post with Physics Today and select the "Publication" enhancement to easily showcase your job to 66 000 physicists and engineers. Physics Today is published by the American Institute of Physics 1 Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740 USA +1 301 209 3100 © 2021 American Institute of Physics. Unsubscribe  |  Email Preferences  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us