The week in physics: Antarctic ice-shelf melting; Computational research for electrical engineering

The Week in Physics ADVERTISEMENT Faster Laser Comms with Steering Mirrors Responding to rising data-rate demands, laser-based communication—from ground to satellite and beyond—is unlocking new possibilities. Piezo- and voice-coil drives deliver the speed and precision to stabilize and accurately point laser beams, over thousands of miles. » See our solution Unraveling the mysteries of Antarctic ice-shelf melting Beneath the ice shelves of the frozen continent, a hidden boundary layer of turbulent ocean is determining Antarctica's fate. Catherine A. Vreugdenhil and Bishakhdatta Gayen JAN 23, 2026 What can physicists do? Kevin Ingles writes code for electrical engineering applications Toni Feder JAN 23, 2026 From the vault Joanne Cohn and the email list that led to arXiv A strong sense of community led an early-career string theorist to share preprints in a scientifically competitive environment. Toni Feder NOV 08, 2021 You might have missed Megaflashes: The world's longest lightning discharges Lightning is sometimes described as just a big spark. But just how big can the spark get? Satellite sensors say … very! Randall S. Cerveny, Michael J. Peterson, and Walter A. Lyons JAN 14, 2026 ADVERTISEMENT Free Job Postings for REU and Intern Roles It's peak recruitment season for REUs/internships. Post for FREE at Physics Today Jobs Network—where four scientific boards deliver maximum visibility! Your FREE post reaches SPS Jobs, Physics Today Jobs and may repost further, depending on relevance. Select the REU/Internship option at the bottom of the page here. Post a Job Get Job Alerts Browse All Jobs Instructor or Assistant Professor of Mathematics or Physics Maine Maritime Academy (Castine, Maine) View Job Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor - M.S. in Astrophysics CUNY Graduate Center (New York City, New York) View Job Professor – Microwave, millimeter-wave, and THZ circuits and systems Polytechnique Montréal (Montréal, Quebec (CA)) View Job Director - CAMCOR University of Oregon (Eugene, Oregon) View Job Assistant Professor, Quantum Science University of Northern British Columbia (Prince George, British Columbia (CA)) View Job Two-Year Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics Davidson College (Davidson, North Carolina) 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. © 2026 American Institute of Physics Physics Today 1 Physics Ellipse College Park, MD 20740 +1 (301) 209 3100