The week in physics: Bridging scales; Passive window shades

Researchers share computational tricks at unique Los Alamos conference Forward this email View in your browser The week in physics: 27–31 January Beginning in February, all Physics Today newsletters will be sent from PhysicsToday@aipcomm.org. To ensure that you continue to receive our newsletters without interruption, please add our new email address to your contacts. Advertisement In Case You Missed it: Special Issue on Quantum Quantum mechanics is all around us and early debates about quantum theory, epitomized by Schrödinger's cat, have morphed into real-world quantum applications. In this special issue, we present articles from our archives that describe the birth of modern quantum mechanics, the emergence of several key concepts, and new applications that have the potential to transform both science and society. Read now. Researchers share computational tricks at unique Los Alamos conference Scientists encompassing multiple disciplines and security clearance levels spent more than a month discussing how to efficiently capture both small- and large-scale phenomena in calculations. Sarah Scoles Q&A: Historian of science Jahnavi Phalkey starts a museum The founding director at Science Gallery Bengaluru in India aims to "bring science back into the culture." Toni Feder From the vault: October 2018 The life and work of Elmer Samuel Imes Although the second African American to receive a physics PhD in the US faced obstacles because of his race, he blazed trails in spectroscopy and pedagogy. Ronald E. Mickens How Pluto got its biggest satellite Pluto and Charon may have briefly merged before being bound in orbit. Other objects in the outer solar system may have assembled into binaries in a similar fashion. Jennifer Sieben Window shades respond to weather No person or electricity is necessary to open and close these window shades. Alex Lopatka Advertisement Save the Date: 2025 Physics & Astronomy Congress Oct 31&endash;Nov 1 marks the largest gathering of physics and astronomy undergrads: the 2025 Physics & Astronomy Congress. The Congress unites students, alumni, and faculty for three days of cutting-edge physics, astronomy, and physical sciences, along with interactive professional development workshops and valuable networking opportunities. Held only once every three years, this is a unique event you won't want to miss. Plan ahead. From the February magazine Frank Kameny the astronomer The famed gay rights leader and accomplished scientist was one of thousands of US government employees who lost their livelihoods during the Lavender Scare. Kai Hostetter-Habib Get notified about our webinars and whitepapers Sign up Get Physics Today delivered for just $25 per year Subscribe Accelerating career connections worldwide for over 75 years BROWSE ALL JOBS POST A JOB CREATE JOB ALERTS FEATURED JOBS Research Fellow Positions at Korea Institute for Advanced Study [AI Center] KIAS (Seoul, South Korea) View Job Post-Doctoral Positions Indiana University Physics Department (Bloomington, IN) View Job Technical Director, Physics Colorado College (Colorado Springs, CO) View Job Department of Physics - Faculty (Open Rank) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Urbana, IL) View Job Summer 2025 undergrad research at UMD College Park (nonlinear dynamics) University of Maryland College Park (College Park, MD) View Job Astronomy Lecturer and Observatory Director The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (Chattanooga, TN) View Job Physics Today is published by the American Institute of Physics 1 Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740 USA +1 301 209 3100 © 2025 American Institute of Physics. Unsubscribe  |  Email Preferences  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us