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The southern skies and tall mountains of Latin America have cultivated a long history of astronomy on the continent. Today, the continent hosts over 80 observatories that are collaborative research centres for the region and the world. But what about other areas of physics? These have benefited from a culture of collaboration, but there are still challenges in fully developing the potential of research on the continent, such as insufficient researchers or resources. In this Viewpoint, seven physicists discuss the varying research landscapes of different areas of physics across the continent.
As we are at the beginning of the second century of quantum physics, we asked four researchers to share their views on new research directions trying to answer old, yet still open, questions in the foundations of quantum theory.
Rapid advances in the capabilities of large language models and the broad accessibility of tools powered by this technology have led to both excitement and concern regarding their use in science. Four experts in artificial intelligence ethics and policy discuss potential risks and call for careful consideration and responsible usage to ensure that good scientific practices and trust in science are not compromised.
Six researchers discuss the early history of the density matrix renormalization group algorithm and the developments it spurred over the past three decades.
The practicalities of data sharing vary widely between disciplines, which have diverse needs and face different challenges. In this Viewpoint, scientists from seven multi-user facilities discuss the status of data sharing in their communities.
Decades of searching for theoretically motivated dark matter candidates have yielded no results, so the research community is starting to adopt different dark matter detection strategies. In a Viewpoint, seven scientists discuss these new approaches.
Fifty years after the publication of Philip Anderson’s landmark essay ‘More is different’ that crystallized the idea of emergence, eight scientists describe the most interesting phenomena that emerge in their fields.
Current and future big science projects in India are providing opportunities for young researchers and building technological capabilities, while contributing to new scientific discoveries. Seven scientists involved in these large-scale projects reflect on the impact their project has on the Indian research landscape.
There isn’t one single ‘early career experience’ in physics, and different subfields involve very different opportunities and challenges. Seven early career physicists who work on a range of research topics in different subfields discuss their views on the lessons we can learn from their professional lives.
Scientists studying cultural heritage use a variety of physics techniques to understand how pieces were made, their history and how to best preserve them. Six scientists who use different techniques describe their work — and how working with cultural heritage can lead to physics developments, too.
Despite decades of intense theoretical, experimental and computational effort, a microscopic theory of high-temperature superconductivity is not yet established. Eight researchers share their contributions to the search for a better understanding of unconventional superconductivity and their hopes for the future of the field.
Theoretical high-energy and condensed-matter physics share various ideas and tools. New connections between the two have been established through quantum information, providing exciting prospects for theoretical advances and even potential experimental studies. Six scientists discuss different directions of research in this inter-disciplinary field.
Over the past 40 years, the quantum Hall effect (QHE) has inspired new theories and led to experimental discoveries in a range of fields going beyond solid-state electronics to photonics and quantum entanglement. In this Viewpoint, physicists reflect on how the QHE has influenced their research.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, science is crucial to inform public policy. At the same time, mistrust of scientists and misinformation about scientific facts are rampant. Six scientists, actively involved in outreach, reflect on how to build a better understanding and trust of science.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, mathematical epidemiologists share their views on what models reveal about how the disease has spread, the current state of play and what work still needs to be done.
Nine researchers, editors and science communicators share their views about the barriers that Asian scientists encounter in publishing their work and becoming more visible on the international level.
