Social science articles within Nature Physics

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  • News & Views |

    Technological innovation seems to be dominated by chance. But a new mathematical analysis suggests we might be able to anticipate when seemingly useless technologies become keystones of more complex environments.

    • César A. Hidalgo

  • Measure for Measure |

    The arrival of a new type of timekeeper heralds the end of the second as we know it, as Helen Margolis explains.

    • Helen Margolis

  • Measure for Measure |

    Temperature measurement standards rely on highly reproducible states of matter — including eutectic points, as Jonathan Pearce explains.

    • Jonathan Pearce

  • Measure for Measure |

    Every now and then, an extra second is added to an earthly year — a cause for trouble and debate, as Felicitas Arias has been witnessing.

    • Felicitas Arias

  • Measure for Measure |

    Nick van Remortel demystifies natural unit systems — and advises what to do when you see a mass expressed in GeV.

    • Nick van Remortel

  • Measure for Measure |

    The bit is a proper unit of measurement and should be recognized as such, argues Iulia Georgescu.

    • Iulia Georgescu

  • Measure for Measure |

    Michel Van Camp and Olivier de Viron are attracted to the fluctuations in the Earth's gravitational pull.

    • Michel Van Camp
    •  & Olivier de Viron

  • Measure for Measure |

    Some concepts are useful but difficult to quantify, as Philip Ball illustrates with the property of hydrophobicity.

    • Philip Ball

  • Measure for Measure |

    Yuqin Zong sheds light on photometry's fundamental unit.

    • Yuqin Zong

  • Measure for Measure |

    Enrico Massa and Giovanni Mana expound on the substance of the Avogadro constant.

    • Enrico Massa
    •  & Giovanni Mana

  • Measure for Measure |

    François Piquemal tells the story of the ampere, which bridges mechanical and electromagnetic units.

    • François Piquemal

  • Measure for Measure |

    Despite intensified efforts, measurements of the gravitational constant continue to fail to converge, as Terry Quinn explains.

    • Terry Quinn

  • Commentary |

    The redefinition of several physical base units planned for 2018 requires precise knowledge of the values of certain fundamental physical constants. Scientists are working hard to meet the deadlines for realizing the ultimate International System of Units.

    • Joachim Fischer
    •  & Joachim Ullrich

  • Editorial |

    South Korea's march from fast follower to first mover in science and technology.

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