Physics

Researchers have developed the most accurate atomic clock ever built, according to a new report. The advance pushes timekeeping precision further, with potential applications in fundamental physics research, navigation, and tests of physical constants. Details of the clock's performance and the team behind it are drawing attention in the scientific community.

A study using artificial intelligence at the Large Hadron Collider challenges the theory that the universe has ten dimensions. The AI analysis of particle collision data casts doubt on predictions from string theory, which requires extra spatial dimensions beyond the four we observe. If confirmed, the findings would force physicists to rethink one of the leading candidate frameworks for unifying quantum mechanics and gravity.

Analysts are warning that solar storms and other space weather events could inflict serious damage on electricity grids and digital infrastructure worldwide. A powerful solar flare or coronal mass ejection could knock out transformers, communications and satellite systems, with the ORF analysis arguing that governments have underprepared for this natural hazard despite growing dependence on interconnected power and digital networks.

Researchers have developed a way to reshape light so it can control magnetic memory and alter a material's magnetic properties. The advance could open new paths for data storage technology, allowing magnetism to be manipulated optically rather than only through magnetic or electrical means. Details of the mechanism and which institutions were involved remain sparse.

Thales, Bull and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) are to work together on software for quantum computers, in a partnership linked to the French armed forces. The announcement highlights France's push to build sovereign quantum computing capabilities for defence applications, drawing attention from technology and science commentators.

The Large Hadron Collider at CERN has begun its shutdown, or disconnection, marking the start of a planned pause in operations of the world's largest particle accelerator. The process involves powering down and decommissioning key systems. The shutdown is expected to allow upgrades that will boost the collider's luminosity for future physics runs, though no detailed timeline was given.

A physicist reports that he challenged an AI system to tackle a nine-loop problem, a famously demanding calculation in theoretical physics, and that Anthropic's Claude was able to solve it. The claim is drawing attention from researchers debating how capable large language models really are at advanced mathematics and physics, and what this means for the future of scientific work.

Researchers report that a quantum simulator has captured a strange process capable of breaking quark strings, the bonds that hold quarks together inside particles. The experiment offers a way to observe string-breaking, a phenomenon in quantum chromodynamics that is otherwise out of reach for classical computers and conventional particle accelerators. Physicists say such simulations could deepen understanding of how matter behaves under extreme conditions.

Security publication BankInfoSecurity is asking whether organizations' networks are prepared for the transition to post-quantum cryptography, the new encryption standards designed to withstand attacks from future quantum computers. The piece underscores growing pressure on enterprises and governments to inventory cryptographic systems and begin migrating before quantum-capable threats materialize.

The National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) is leading a study of neutrino scattering at the Large Hadron Collider. The work examines how neutrinos interact with matter at the highest collision energies available, a regime previously inaccessible to dedicated neutrino experiments. Researchers say the findings could sharpen understanding of the weak force and improve modelling of particle collisions at CERN's flagship accelerator.

The European Union's Galileo satellite navigation system includes an encrypted signal service that can be used to counter GPS spoofing, where attackers broadcast fake positioning data to deceive receivers. Coverage is examining how the system's authentication features let devices verify that navigation signals genuinely come from Galileo satellites, a capability drawing interest as spoofing incidents around conflict zones and near critical infrastructure raise concerns about the vulnerability of civilian navigation systems worldwide.

Mobile Industry Review has published an opinion piece asking whether the telecoms industry was wrong in its bets on millimeter wave technology for 5G. The article weighs mmWave's promised ultra-fast speeds against its limited range and spotty real-world deployment, reigniting debate over whether operators overinvested in the high-band spectrum at the expense of more practical mid-band rollout.

Researchers at the International Center for Nanoarchitectonics report guiding quantum vortices using purpose-built atomic-scale rails, a technique that could give scientists precise control over superfluid and superconducting behavior at the nanoscale. The work is drawing attention in physics circles for its potential implications for quantum materials research and future quantum technologies.

The Governor of Gujarat has called on young researchers to examine physics, mathematics and astronomy through a logical lens. The appeal, reported by ThePrint, frames rigorous reasoning as central to scientific study, and comes amid ongoing public discussions in India about strengthening research culture and scientific temper among students and early-career academics.