AIP opposes removal of Physics as a stand-alone discipline at UON

We are proud to share that Prof. Jos Brouwers from the Department of the Built Environment, Eindhoven University of Technology, has published a new article in the highly reputable journal 𝙋𝙝𝙮𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙀: “𝙍𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙢 𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙝𝙮𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙯𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚: 𝘼 𝙜𝙚𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝” This study introduces new geometric models to better understand how differently sized particles pack together in high-dimensional spaces — a fundamental problem in physics and materials science with implications for glass formation, amorphous materials, and beyond. By bridging classical theories with modern computational insights, the work demonstrates how simple geometric concepts can explain complex packing behavior in dimensions ranging from 2D to infinity. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://lnkd.in/eUz-jZia Congratulations to Prof. Brouwers on this impactful contribution! 👏 #Research #Publication #BuiltEnvironment #Physics #MaterialsScience

As we approach the 4th Symposium on the History of Particle Physics, let me bring back this 1997 conference... What's the use of basic science? by Llewellyn Smith, Christopher Hubert 1997-06-12 https://lnkd.in/e4GzxzRM Video: With public expenditure under pressure, the criteria for the allocation of funding to scientific research have come under increasing scrutiny. It is sometimes asserted that funds should be focused on applied ("useful") science and technology, rather than pure ("useless") science. I shall argue that this misunderstands the contribution of science to society and the role of public funding. To equate the useful with the applied is to display the same level of understanding as the child who thinks that the hands are the most important part of a watch because they are the ones that tell the time. Governments should support basic science because it is economically useful, as well as being part of our culture. This leads to the much more difficult questions of the level at which Government should fund basic science, and criteria for the allocation of funding between different fields.

#PhD students, don't get discouraged if your studies are far from an immediate impact or application! You don't have to chase the trendy science. Instead, your today's research can become the CRUCIAL contribution to the science in the far future. Here are some example: 1️⃣ In 1958, Hummers published a method for preparing graphite oxide. It went largely unnoticed until graphene won the Nobel Prize in 2010. Now, that paper has been cited > 35,000 times. 2️⃣ In 1970s, Saul Teukolsky was a PhD student at Caltech and worked an entirely hypothetical problem that had no connection with reality - perturbation of black holes. In 2016, scientists detected gravitational waves from merging black holes. Suddenly, his old PhD work (!) gained new popularity, as black holes had finally become experimentally measurable objects. In science, it’s rare for work to have an immediate impact. Real impact often takes time. That’s why curiosity matters so much. Without it, previous generations wouldn’t have made so much progress. Exploring the unknown, testing old hypotheses and running ”weird" experiments in the past made today’s science possible.

PhD students, junior researchers, don't get discouraged! 😥 The impact of your work may not be immediately visible. This graph is a powerful reminder. It shows a paper on 'Preparation of Graphitic Oxide' published in 1958. For years, it was largely unnoticed. Then, decades later, a new discovery—graphene—led to a citation explosion and a Nobel Prize in 2010. Sometimes, we have to trust our supervisors and the process, believing our contributions will find their moment. Keep pushing through, your work has value beyond what you can see today. Your impact might be the foundation for a future breakthrough. 🔬

Good work will speak one day. But only things is the time-scale may vary case to case. What I feel, each researcher should make a rule (him/herself) as "what/which way this work is going to give a impact to the particular field, what is a new perspective/ideal concise for the further development in a field, systematic progress, etc." instead of working for making volume (more count) of publications. If the work is solid, the world (slowly) recognise you through the work. "Work will speak, but it depends on quality/noteworthy contribution/"

The Hidden Cost of Cutting NIH Research: A Lesson from History In 1958, the Hummers and Offeman paper on graphene oxide went largely unnoticed for decades, until the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics sparked a graphene revolution, driving billions in innovation. This shows how foundational research, often undervalued at first, can transform industries and lives years later. Today, proposed cuts to NIH funding threaten a similar story. With over $48B annually fueling 410,000+ jobs and $93B in economic activity, NIH research drives breakthroughs in cancer, Alzheimer’s, and infectious diseases. In red states like Texas and Louisiana, NIH grants support local economies and healthcare advancements. Yet, recent terminations of 2,482 grants worth $8.7B could stall life-saving discoveries. Cutting NIH funding also risks ceding U.S. leadership in biomedical innovation to global competitors like China, weakening our international competitiveness. For taxpayers, especially in MAGA strongholds, the impact may not hit immediately. But like the graphene oxide paper, the true cost (fewer treatments, weakened health security, and lost economic opportunities) will emerge years later. Basic research is a long game, but it’s one we can’t afford to lose. Let’s protect the spark of discovery that fuels our future. #NIH #ResearchMatters #Innovation #Healthcare #EconomicImpact

🔬 “XPS helps us understand what’s really happening at the interface” Enzo Pineira, a PhD student researching solid-state batteries, joined the XPS Summer School 2025, organised with Royce Cambridge and delivered by CORDE Academy. The course was supported by Royce at Cambridge and provided by the Department of Physics. “In solid-state batteries, ensuring stable contact between active materials and solid electrolytes is a big challenge. XPS helps us characterise these interfaces and understand if degradation is occurring.” 📍 The programme mixed theory, hands-on workshops, and problem-solving. Participants analysed their own samples, worked in small groups, and developed valuable skills from testing through to final presentations. 🔗 Stay updated and never miss opportunities like this, sign up to our newsletter via the link in the comments. Henry Royce Institute University of Cambridge Cavendish Laboratory - Department of Physics at the University of Cambridge #RoyceCambridge #XPSTraining #MaterialsCharacterisation #AdvancedMaterials #ResearchSkills #EnergyMaterials #EarlyCareerResearchers

Excited to share that our recent work on superconductivity in the ordered alloy NbCd₃ has been published in Physica B: Condensed Matter (Elsevier)! DOI: https://lnkd.in/dPnx8jg8 This project is particularly significant to me as it was accomplished alongside my regular MSc coursework. Just weeks before, I had studied superconductivity theory in my Condensed Matter Physics class and group theory in Quantum Field Theory. This work provided a unique opportunity to immediately apply what I learned: I utilized both concepts to interpret physical results, marking the first time I've used the powerful tools of group theory in a practical setting. It led to a much deeper appreciation for this elegant branch of mathematics. A rewarding experience that highlights how theoretical knowledge translates into real-world research! All thanks to my supervisors: Dr Alamgir Kabir sir and Dr Tareq Mahmud sir for guiding me in the process. The paper is available at: https://lnkd.in/dK9mWnk3 #Superconductivity #CondensedMatterPhysics #GroupTheory #Research #MSc #Physics #PublishedWork

For centuries, people believed ice was slippery because pressure and friction melted a thin film of water. But new research from Saarland University reveals that this long-standing explanation is wrong. Instead, the slipperiness comes from the subtle interaction of molecular dipoles between ice and surfaces like shoes or skis. These microscopic electrical forces disorder the crystal structure of ice, creating a thin liquid layer even at temperatures near absolute zero. The discovery overturns nearly 200 years of scientific thought and has wide implications for physics and winter sports alike. https://lnkd.in/eddJmWuK