The week in physics: Black hole spectroscopy; Atomically thin metals

The week in physics: 7–11 April How black hole spectroscopy can put general relativity to the test Einstein's theory makes specific predictions about the nonlinear spacetime oscillations that propagate from merging black holes. Next-generation gravitational-wave detectors should enable researchers to evaluate those predictions. Emanuele Berti, Mark Ho-Yeuk Cheung, and Sophia Yi To make atomically thin metals, just squeeze Metals aren't naturally stable in 2D form. But when forced into thin sheets, they exhibit new and unusual properties that researchers are eager to explore. Laura Fattaruso From the vault: May 1949 The nuclear‐powered rocket feasible? The chief of the applied physics division of the jet propulsion laboratory at the California Institute of Technology treats here current problems in conventional rocketry and the possibilities of powering rockets with nuclear energy. The conclusions, he finds, are somewhat "melancholy." H. S. Seifert You might have missed Seismic data provide a deep dive into groundwater health During times of sparse rainfall, many communities rely on pumping from wells to meet their water needs. But do the water reserves recover when the rains return? Johanna L. Miller ADVERTISEMENT Transform High School Physics Education Apply for the William F. and Edith R. Meggers Project Award to receive up to $25,000 to enhance high school physics education. This award supports high school–level projects aimed at increasing interest in physics and improving the quality of physics education. The deadline to apply is June 15. Learn More Post a Job Get Job Alerts Browse All Jobs Field Service Engineer II Thorlabs (Sterling, VA) View Job Inertial Confinement Fusion Physicist Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Livermore, CA) View Job Postdoctoral Researcher - JR2145 University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH) View Job KIAS Fellow position in the School of Physics KIAS (Seoul, South Korea) View Job Visiting Assistant Professor University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN) View Job Lecturer in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry Yale University (New Haven, CT) View Job Physics Today is published by the American Institute of Physics. To manage your AIP email preferences and newsletter subscriptions, click here. Or unsubscribe from all AIP emails. © 2025 American Institute of Physics. Physics Today 1 Physics Ellipse College Park, MD 20740-3842 +1 301 209 3100