Physics World Weekly Podcast

• Exploring this year’s best physics research in our Top 10 Breakthroughs of 2025

  This episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast features a lively discussion about our Top 10 Breakthroughs of 2025, which include important research in quantum sensing, planetary science, medical physics, 2D materials and more. Physics World editors explain why we have made our selections and look at the broader implications of this impressive body of research. The top 10 serves as the shortlist for the Physics World Breakthrough of the Year award, the winner of which will be announced on 18 December. Links to all the nominees, more about their research and the selection criteria can be found here. Physics World‘s coverage of the Breakthrough of the Year is supported by Reports on Progress in Physics, which offers unparalleled visibility for your ground-breaking research.

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• Building a quantum future using topological phases of matter and error correction

  This episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast features Tim Hsieh of Canada’s Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. We explore some of today’s hottest topics in quantum science and technology – including topological phases of matter; quantum error correction and quantum simulation. Our conversation begins with an exploration of the quirky properties quantum matter and how these can be exploited to create quantum technologies. We look at the challenges that must be overcome to create large-scale quantum computers; and Hsieh reveals which problem he would solve first if he had access to a powerful quantum processor. This interview was recorded earlier this autumn when I had the pleasure of visiting the Perimeter Institute and speaking to four physicists about their research. This is the third of those conversations to appear on the podcast. The first interview in this series from the Perimeter Institute was with Javier Toledo-Marín, “Quantum computing and AI join forces for particle physics”; and the second was with Bianca Dittrich, “Quantum gravity: we explore spin foams and other potential solutions to this enduring challenge“. This episode is supported by the APS Global Physics Summit, which takes place on 15–20 March, 2026, in Denver, Colorado, and online.

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• Quantum gravity: we explore spin foams and other potential solutions to this enduring challenge

  Earlier this autumn I had the pleasure of visiting the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo Canada – where I interviewed four physicists about their research. This is the second of those conversations to appear on the podcast – and it is with Bianca Dittrich, whose research focuses on quantum gravity. Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity does a great job at explaining gravity but it is thought to be incomplete because it is incompatible with quantum mechanics. This is an important shortcoming because quantum mechanics is widely considered to be one of science’s most successful theories. Developing a theory of quantum gravity is a crucial goal in physics, but it is proving to be extremely difficult. In this episode, Dittrich explains some of the challenges and talks about ways forward – including her current research on spin foams. We also chat about the intersection of quantum gravity and condensed matter physics; and the difficulties of testing theories against observational data. The first interview in this series from the PI was with Javier Toledo-Marín: “Quantum computing and AI join forces for particle physics” IOP Publishing’s new Progress In Series: Research Highlights website offers quick, accessible summaries of top papers from leading journals like Reports on Progress in Physics and Progress in Energy. Whether you’re short on time or just want the essentials, these highlights help you expand your knowledge of leading topics.

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• Talking physics with an alien civilization: what could we learn?

  It is book week here at Physics World and over the course of three days we are presenting conversations with the authors of three fascinating and fun books about physics. Today, my guest is the physicist Daniel Whiteson, who along with the artist Andy Warner has created the delightful book Do Aliens Speak Physics?. Is physics universal, or is it shaped by human perspective? This will be a very important question if and when we are visited by an advanced alien civilization. Would we recognize our visitors’ alien science – or indeed, could a technologically-advanced civilization have no science at all? And would we even be able to communicate about science with our alien guests? Whiteson, who is a particle physicist at the University of California Irvine, tackles these profound questions and much more in this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast. This episode is supported by the APS Global Physics Summit, which takes place on 15–20 March, 2026, in Denver, Colorado, and online.

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• Better coffee, easier parking and more: the fascinating physics of daily life

  It is book week here at Physics World and over the course of three days we are presenting conversations with the authors of three fascinating and fun books about physics. First up is my Physics World colleague Michael Banks, whose book Physics Around the Clock: Adventures in the Science of Everyday Living starts with your morning coffee and ends with a formula for making your evening television viewing more satisfying. As well as the rich physics of coffee, we chat about strategies for finding the best parking spot and the efficient boarding of aeroplanes. If you have ever wondered why a runner’s ponytail swings from side-to-side when they reach a certain speed – we have the answer for you. Other daily mysteries that we explore include how a hard steel razor blade can be dulled by cutting relatively soft hairs and why quasiparticles called “jamitons” are helping physicists understand the spontaneous appearance of traffic jams. And a warning for squeamish listeners, we do talk about the amazing virus-spreading capabilities of a flushing toilet. This episode is supported by the APS Global Physics Summit, which takes place on 15–20 March, 2026, in Denver, Colorado, and online.

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