History articles within Nature Physics

Featured

  • Measure for Measure |

    Measuring air temperature is far from a trivial task, as Andrea Merlone, Graziano Coppa and Chiara Musacchio explain.

    • Andrea Merlone
    • , Graziano Coppa
    •  & Chiara Musacchio

  • Measure for Measure |

    Adaptive optics allows scientists to correct for distortions of an image caused by the scattering of light. Anita Chandran illuminates the nature of the technique.

    • Anita Mary Chandran

  • Measure for Measure |

    Quantum technologies change our notion of measurement. Chenyu Wang elaborates on how quantum squeezing enhances the precision of gravitational-wave interferometers.

    • Chenyu Wang

  • Measure for Measure |

    The hectare has a long association with the metric system, but its most recent status has created some ambiguity as to its future application. Richard Brown surveys the lay of the land.

    • Richard J. C. Brown

  • Measure for Measure |

    Although its measurement was considered an experimental nightmare for decades, the Stefan–Boltzmann constant was assigned an exact value in 2019. Massimiliano Malgieri and Pasquale Onorato explain what this story teaches us.

    • Massimiliano Malgieri
    •  & Pasquale Onorato

  • Measure for Measure |

    Metrology and meteorology: just two letters separating two similar and frequently confused words. Andrea Merlone, Chiara Musacchio and Walter Bich tell us about these different disciplines and ways in which they collaborate.

    • Andrea Merlone
    • , Chiara Musacchio
    •  & Walter Bich

  • Measure for Measure |

    Originally invented to improve cornering techniques in race driving, speed traps contribute to road safety. Robert Wynands introduces us to tools of traffic metrology.

    • Robert Wynands

  • Measure for Measure |

    Radionuclides have a myriad of applications, ranging from nuclear energy to environmental studies. Carine Michotte illustrates the importance of radionuclide metrology for nuclear medicine.

    • Carine Michotte

  • Measure for Measure |

    The unit one is a necessary part of any system of units but debate concerning its proper treatment in science and technology continues. Richard Brown enumerates its uses.

    • Richard J. C. Brown

  • Measure for Measure |

    Not to be confused with Jane Austen’s famous character, the unit darcy goes back to a French engineer, as Stefanie Reichert explains.

    • Stefanie Reichert

  • Measure for Measure |

    Despite their differences, the six regional metrology organizations work together to provide and advance the global equivalence of national measurements standards, as Hyun Min Park explains.

    • Hyun Min Park

  • Measure for Measure |

    The nautical mile and knot were acknowledged by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures. Bart Verberck wonders why this is not the case anymore.

    • Bart Verberck

  • Editorial |

    11 February marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. We ask what it takes to be considered one.

  • Measure for Measure |

    Standards recommended by the International Organization for Standardization are often hidden in plain sight. Angelique Botha, Chair of ISO/TC 334 for Reference Materials, tells us where to look.

    • Angelique Botha

  • Measure for Measure |

    The SI prefixes provide an essential mechanism for the effective communication of scientific information. Richard Brown and Martin Milton inform us about the latest developments.

    • Richard J. C. Brown
    •  & Martin J. T. Milton

  • Measure for Measure |

    The use of quantum effects and digital technologies is changing the measurement of electrical power and energy, as explained by Héctor Laiz.

    • Héctor Laiz

  • Measure for Measure |

    The vast majority of devices for processing quantum information — from communication to computation and sensing — operate with quantum bits. Federico Levi tells us what makes a good qubit.

    • Federico Levi

  • Measure for Measure |

    Although the ohm is ‘only’ a derived SI unit, the assumption that it plays an unobtrusive role could not be further from the truth, as Karin Cedergren reveals.

    • Karin Cedergren

  • Measure for Measure |

    The impact of legal metrology often remains unnoticed in our everyday lives. Pavel Klenovsky, Marc Wouters and Wilfried de Waal instruct us in trade and legal regulations.

    • Pavel Klenovsky
    • , Marc Wouters
    •  & Wilfried de Waal

  • Measure for Measure |

    The shift of the definition of the kilogram in 2019 away from an artefact to one relying on the Planck constant inspires technological innovation, as Naoki Kuramoto elucidates.

    • Naoki Kuramoto

  • Measure for Measure |

    A task group recommends values for many constants in fundamental theories of physics and chemistry. Eite Tiesinga and Peter Mohr tell some of the constants’ stories.

    • Eite Tiesinga
    •  & Peter Mohr

  • Measure for Measure |

    The coexistence of qualitative and quantitative scales characterizes advances in earthquake measurements. Although often confused, intensity and magnitude refer to very different things, as Leonardo Benini explains.

    • Leonardo Benini

  • Measure for Measure |

    The establishment of a global metric system of units as agreed upon in the Metre Convention relies on international as well as national institutes and organizations, of which Stefanie Reichert gives an overview.

    • Stefanie Reichert

  • Measure for Measure |

    To celebrate the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development, James Gallagher tells the story of the British thermal unit, a unit for heat.

    • James Gallagher

  • Measure for Measure |

    The idea of radiocarbon existing at equilibrium within Earth’s atmosphere has established radiocarbon dating. Adam Fleisher takes a look at its beginnings, achievements and limitations.

    • Adam J. Fleisher

  • Editorial |

    This month, we celebrate the discovery of electromagnetic rotation, the principle behind the electric motor.

  • Measure for Measure |

    The uptake of graphene-based materials calls for standardization. Silvia Milana explains what this entails.

    • Silvia Milana

  • Measure for Measure |

    The unit length of DNA is a base pair, which serves as a ruler for DNA compaction and processing, as Michelle Wang explains.

    • Michelle D. Wang

  • Measure for Measure |

    A single equation can describe how fluids flow across a wide range of length scales, from ocean currents to swimming algae. The difference merely lies in the Reynolds number, says Julia Yeomans.

    • Julia M. Yeomans

  • Measure for Measure |

    Surface scientists love a good vacuum. The reason for this is captured by the work of Irving Langmuir and the little-known unit bearing his name, explains Daniel Payne.

    • Daniel T. Payne

  • Measure for Measure |

    The metric system is one of the enduring achievements of the French Revolution. Martin Milton recounts how it was also intended to unite nations.

    • Martin J. T. Milton

  • Measure for Measure |

    Simulations are as much a part of science as hypothesis and experiment. But can their outcomes be considered observations? Wendy S. Parker investigates.

    • Wendy S. Parker

  • Measure for Measure |

    Wolfgang Pauli introduced the Bohr magneton as a fundamental unit of magnetic moment during an effort to find a quantum basis for magnetism, as Davide Castelvecchi recounts.

    • Davide Castelvecchi

  • Measure for Measure |

    Giacomo Prando summarizes the troubled history of the radian, a unit with the odd property of appearing and disappearing seemingly at will in dimensional formulas.

    • Giacomo Prando

  • Measure for Measure |

    The note A tuned to 440 Hz only became the norm for musical performance in 1939 after decades of international and interdisciplinary disputes. Fanny Gribenski retraces this rocky path.

    • Fanny Gribenski

  • Measure for Measure |

    Tell Bartolo Luque and Fernando Ballesteros how far the Sun is from the Earth, and they will tell you the size of the Universe.

    • Bartolo Luque
    •  & Fernando J. Ballesteros

  • Measure for Measure |

    Continuously improving precision in length measurements increases understanding of our world and its phenomena, both at small and large scales, as Leo Gross reveals.

    • Leo Gross

  • Measure for Measure |

    From determining the compound interest on borrowed money to gauging chances at the roulette wheel in Monte Carlo, Stefanie Reichert explains that there’s no way around Euler’s number.

    • Stefanie Reichert

  • Measure for Measure |

    Imaginary numbers have a chequered history, and a sparse — if devoted — following. Abigail Klopper looks at why a concept as beautiful as i gets such a bad rap.

    • Abigail Klopper

  • Comment |

    Einstein’s general theory of relativity is one of the most important accomplishments in the history of science. We reassess the importance of one of the expeditions that made its experimental verification possible — a story that involves a sense of adventure and scientific ingenuity in equal measure.

    • Luís C. B. Crispino
    •  & Daniel J. Kennefick

  • Editorial |

    The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded for advances in laser physics that have conferred a formidable benefit to humankind — on both fundamental and applied fronts.

Browse broader subjects

Browse History across other nature.com journals