Physics World Newsletter: The power of quantum sensors, the buzz of business, and the benefits of ionizing radiation

The International Year of Quantum Science and Technology is now in full swing and it’s always quantum computing, communication and cryptography that grab the lion’s share of attention. But quantum sensors are touted by some as the true breakthrough technology in the quantum world. Find out this week if gravity-based quantum sensors really could help us to spot underground pipes in an in-depth (pun intended) feature by Katherine Skipper .?

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How civil engineering is bringing quantum physics down to earth?

These days quantum science and technology are burgeoning – with quantum computers, communication and cryptography in the spotlight. But quantum sensors are important too and could be a cool new way to locate objects buried underground. Katherine Skipper visits the University of Birmingham to find out how quantum-based gravity sensors are moving out of the lab and into the real world.?

Read the full article here >>?

Why nothing beats the buzz of being in a small hi-tech business?

Working for a large corporation can be stable and secure. But drawing on her experience working for a start-up firm that built a product to improve the safety of helicopters, new Physics World columnist Honor Powrie explains why you can learn so much more in a small business.?

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Ionizing radiation: its biological impacts and how it is used to treat disease?

In this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast, Tami Freeman talks to Ileana Silvestre Patallo, a medical physicist at the UK’s National Physical Laboratory, and Ruth McLauchlan, consultant radiotherapy physicist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. They discuss how ionizing radiation such as X-rays and proton beams interact with our bodies and how radiation is being used to treat diseases including cancer.?

Listen to the full podcast here >>

In case you missed it…?

The new Physics World Live 2025 series has now been announced, with the first event “Physics World Live: Careers” to be held on 9 April 2025. ? ?

Join the live panel discussion on “what can you do with a physics degree?". ? ?

Confirmed speakers:?

Crystal Bailey , director of programs and inclusive practices at the American Physical Society?

Dr Tamara Clelford , leader of the Chartered Physicist review at the Institute of Physics?

Araceli Venegas-Gomez , chief executive and founder of Qureca?

Tushna Commissariat , features editor of Physics World and editor of the annual Physics World Careers guide? ?

Register to secure your place today >>?

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Joint APS meeting brings together the physics community: Sponsored by APS Global Physics Summit exhibitors??

With the American Physical Society combining its March and April meetings into the Global Physics Summit, find out about two of the companies – Mad City Labs and Hubner Photonics – that are exhibiting at the show.?

Read the full article here >>?

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The final word…?

None of these notebooks have been looked at or analysed in any great depth. They’re little known to the public?

Charlotte New, head of heritage at the Royal Institution, quoted in the Guardian??

Notebooks belonging to the English scientist Michael Faraday have been unearthed from Royal Institution archives and are now set to be digitised and made permanently accessible online for the first time.?

Matin Durrani?

Editor-in-chief, Physics World?

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