Physics Today

When #swimming in the #ParisOlympics, fractions of a second can determine if you medal or not. Your skill matters, but so does the swimsuit you wear. #TeamUSA and other swimmers are once again wearing high-tech suits developed by Speedo. The company’s LZR Racer swimsuits dominated the Beijing games in 2008. Although the rules governing suit technology have gotten stricter since then, the same fluid dynamics principles still guide the creation of suits with minimal drag. Discover how the LZR Racer swimsuits were developed with the help of a wind tunnel and a NASA engineer in these #PhysicsToday stories from 2008: https://lnkd.in/e2kPiAQi https://lnkd.in/ekgvjnmi 📷: Image courtesy of ANSYS Inc.

I've been learning so much about lasers this month. The full piece is forthcoming in the September issue of Physics Today, but here's a preview: Using integrated photonics, researchers in the Nanoscale and Quantum Photonics Lab at Stanford University have developed a mini titanium:sapphire laser better suited for quantum optics than the current tabletop version. https://lnkd.in/d2pEWqqW

Our August issue is here! Learn about the origins of the dark-matter hypothesis, a tsunami triggered by the dinosaur-killing asteroid, the quest to harness laser fusion technology, and the smallest droplets of water. Read the issue now: https://lnkd.in/efYtnduP #PhysicsToday

Biological energy systems and electrical power grids differ in scale and discipline but work similarly in many ways. In this month’s issue, explore how electrical engineers could learn from biological systems to improve the smart grids of the future. https://lnkd.in/dHS32hac 📷: Jason Keisling #PhysicsToday

Neurons typically receive electric signals via dendrites—the thick tapered branches that extend from the neurons’ cell bodies—and transmit those signals along axons, the longer, thinner fibers that run between the cells. New techniques enable the detailed mapping of neurons and their connections, which will help researchers understand how our brains function. #PhysicsToday https://lnkd.in/ecyxu8WU

More than two dozen countries have pledged to triple global nuclear energy production by 2050 to combat climate change. But skeptics say the cost, risks , and snail’s pace make the approach a nonstarter—and a distraction from renewable energy. https://lnkd.in/emTt8Mkz

Indigenous women earned only 0.2% of US bachelor’s degrees in the physical sciences in 2021. But when mentors invest in and champion a cause, they can make a real difference. That’s the case with Engaging Indigenous Women in Nuclear Physics, a small program at Los Alamos National Laboratory with a big impact. https://lnkd.in/ePgPfR44 #PhysicsToday #WomeninSTEM

In celebration of today’s kickoff of the #ParisOlympics, why not read an article by Olympic swimmer Jiří Linhart on megagauss magnetic fields? https://lnkd.in/ee7aCcAe And read about his innovative work on fusion and high-density plasmas. https://lnkd.in/eBagiJFE #PhysicsToday #Paris2024 #OpeningCeremony

On #NationalInternDay, we’re highlighting stories from past Physics Today interns. Our 2022 intern, Gizem Doğan, interviewed Erkcan Özcan, a physicist who helped create a particle detector and accelerator lab in Turkey. He also headlines monthly science explainer videos on the FluTV YouTube channel. https://lnkd.in/dED3yiei #PhysicsToday

On #NationalInternDay, we’re highlighting stories from past Physics Today interns. A story by our 2021 intern, Madison Brewer, looks at roller coaster physics and a culprit for energy loss on a loop-the-loop: jerk. https://lnkd.in/d6pbGcJ8 #PhysicsToday